Not Just Smokers get Oral Cancer

Posted by Dr. Belgin Günay on Tue, 25 Jul 2023

Westboro Dental Centre Dr. Belgin Günay - Dentist Ottawa

Rates of deadly disease is on the rise.
According to Health Canada oral cancer is thirteenth most common cancer.

Risk factors for developing oral cancer:

• Smoking particularly when combined with heavy alcohol consumption
• Excessive sun exposure to the lips.
• Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection.
• Diet low in fruit and vegetables.
• Age; most common in people over 50. (Recently it has been on the rise with younger generations as young as early twenties-having multiple sex partners, a partner who has had numerous partners and having a weakened immune system)
• Gender 2:1 ratio of men to women.

Symptoms may include:

• Sore lip or sore in the mouth that does not heal within two weeks
• Sore throat that does not go away or a feeling that something is caught in the throat
• Lump on lip, in the mouth and throat
• White or red patch on the gums, tongue or lining of the mouth
• Unusual bleeding, pain or numbness in the mouth
• Difficulty or pain chewing or swallowing
• Swelling of the jaw that causes dentures fit poorly or become uncomfortable

Please make an appointment and have an Oral Cancer Screening exam today.