Should I have early screening for oral cancer?

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. Make sure to tell your dentist about any problems you have when chewing, swallowing, speaking or moving your tongue or jaw.

The National Cancer Institute estimates that about 40,000 people in the United States will be diagnosed with mouth or throat cancer in 2012. About 8,000 people will die of the disease.

If you are at high risk for oral cancer, it's a good idea to be screened early. Each year, more than 35,000 people are diagnosed with oral cancer, and 7,500 people die from the disease. However, when detected and treated early, oral cancer can be cured. During early screening, your dentist will check about 10 places around your tongue and gums for any signs of oral cancer.

Your risk for oral cancer increases if you or a family member have had cancer, or if you smoke or drink excessive amounts of alcohol. 

You should get screened early for oral cancer. Early screening generally only involves a routine dental exam and is painless and very fast. Your dentist will examine the inside of your mouth, as well as your face and jaw, for signs of oral cancer. Cancer of the tonsils is too difficult to detect during a normal dental exam and will require additional testing, so you should speak to your doctor if you are worried about it. As with most cancers, early detection is key - the earlier you are diagnosed, the greater the rate of survival.