Your Appointment Could Mean The Difference Between Life And Death

Your teeth are important to us, but they’re not the only reason we remind you, again and again, to come in for your semi-annual examinations. There’s actually something else we’re on the lookout for, and you may not even be aware of it. Skipping an appointment could lead to serious health complications, costly medical bills, and even disfigurement. What are we referring to?

Oral Cancers

While we’re poking around your mouth and polishing your teeth, we’re doing more than just looking for decay or gum disease; we’re also looking for signs of oral cancer. Not only are we conducting a thorough visual examination of your oral tissues, but we also palpate the tissue, as well. What are we looking for? Here are some of the more common symptoms:

• Sores that won’t go away
• Red or white patches
• Persistent pain of the oral tissues
• Lumps or other thickened oral tissue

Like most other cancers, oral cancer is highly treatable if caught early. This is exactly why it’s so important to come in every six months, without fail. When we see you regularly, we know what the “norm” is when it comes to your mouth. We can also catch potential warning signs before they become detrimental to your health.

Your Risk Factors

There are risk factors when it comes to oral cancers, and some may be worse for those of us who live in Florida:

• Frequent sun exposure
• Smoking or chewing tobacco and snuff
• Smoking any marijuana products
• Smoking e-cigarettes of any kind
• Drinking, particularly heavy drinking
• HPV, or the human papillomavirus

If you happen to have any of these risk factors, of course, please try to minimize them as much as possible, and make an appointment to see us as soon as possible, and be sure to continue to come in for us to keep a close eye on you every six months.

We look forward to seeing you and keeping your smile beautiful and your body happy and healthy!