You hear about other cancers much more often: Who hasn’t walked for life or donated to a breast cancer organization? But while other cancers are getting all the attention, oral cancer is insidiously keeping pace by the day.

The numbers are alarming. According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, over “49,750 Americans will be diagnosed with oral oropharyngeal cancer this year,” and many more will go undiagnosed. How can that be happening? Early symptoms of oral cancer can be subtle enough to be ignored leading to a death rate that is significantly higher than other cancers, “not because it is hard to discover or diagnose, but due to the cancer being routinely discovered late in its development.”

That’s why Dental Arts of Rockland not only screens for oral cancer at your comprehensive exam but also at every cleaning. Maybe it has been a while since your last dental exam or cleaning. Or perhaps you’re experiencing white or red patches in your mouth with unexplained bleeding. Sometimes you get mouth sores that won’t heal or lumps in your neck or in your mouth. If any of these symptoms sound familiar, please give us a call today. It could save your life.