Oral cancer can include cancer of the lips, tongue, cheeks, mouth, sinuses, and throat, and can appear as a sore or a growth that doesn’t heal. Since oral cancer can be life threatening if not treated properly, oral cancer screenings are a good way to detect the cancer early and be able to treat it.



Oral cancer screenings are a part of proper oral health, and a dentist can perform one during your routine dental visit or when requested. There are some people with a higher risk of oral cancer, and they should be screened more for proper oral health. Those that use tobacco of any kind, including cigarettes, cigars, dip and chewing tobacco products, heavy alcohol users or those with a previous oral cancer diagnosis should be screened. Those with a family history of cancer and excessive sun exposure could also be at more risk. Even with these risk factors, over 25% of those that are diagnosed with oral cancer are people that don’t smoke and who only drink occasionally, making an oral cancer screening important for everybody.



Oral cancer is not as rare as people think. It is estimated that 4,700 Canadians are diagnosed with oral cancer every year. Of those diagnosed, 1,250 individuals die from oral cancer. Since oral cancer starts off small and can often go unnoticed until it affects other spots of the body, oral cancer screenings are the first line of defence for detecting oral cancer early, so that it can be treated. An oral cancer screening won’t necessarily save the life of someone who has oral cancer, but if the cancer is caught early enough, there could be more treatment options available.


During the oral cancer screening, your dentist will look for any lumps or irregular tissue in the neck, head, and mouth. Dentists will also look for any sores or discoloured tissues. If necessary, a biopsy will be performed if there is an area that looks suspicious.


Visit Upper Hunt Club Dental Centre to get an oral cancer screening and regular dental care to have a better understanding of your oral health. Contact us today to book an appointment!