How serious is oral cancer?

Oral cancer can be very serious but regular visits to your dentist can improve the chances that any suspicious changes in your oral health will be caught early, at a time when cancer can be treated more easily. During your dental visit, your dentist can talk to you about your health history and examine these areas for signs of mouth and/or throat cancer.

The symptoms of mouth or throat cancer can include:

• sores that bleed easily or do not heal
• a thick or hard spot or lump
• a roughened or crusted area
• numbness, pain or tenderness
• a change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite down

The National Cancer Institute estimates that about 40,000 people in the United States will be diagnosed with mouth or throat cancer in 2012.

Oral cancer, which usually forms on the lips, tongue, or other areas around the mouth, is a serious condition. More than 7,500 people die from the disease each year. However, it doesn't have to be life-threatening; when diagnosed and treated early, the survival rate is good.

Oral cancer can be treated or even cured with surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy. Dentists detect oral cancer during regular office visits by checking for sores or ulcers inside your mouth.