Protecting Your Million Dollar Smile: What you Need to Know About Oral Cancer

Twice a year; that is how often it is recommended that you visit your dentist’s office for a dental cleaning. Regular cleanings are important for identifying cavities and gingivitis, but your dentist will also be looking for symptoms of something just as important: oral cancer. It is estimated that about 59,600 people are diagnosed with a form of oral cancer every year, usually when it is already in the later stages of the disease. April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month, and we have the information you need to know about this disease.  

Genesee Health Plan (GHP) Dental Programs 

Visiting your dentist for a regular tooth cleaning every six months could help with early detection of oral cancer. We feel so strongly about regular dental visits, that GHP offers dental coverage to our members. GHP can also help seniors over the age of 60 and veterans access dental care through our FREE Senior and Veteran Dental Programs! Each program offers vital dental benefits, including:

• Dental cleanings 
• Dentures 
• Denture relines and repairs 
• Fillings 
• Extractions
• Oral exams
• Oral surgery 
• X-rays 

Call our office at 844-232-7740 to find out if you are eligible, or:

• Click here to learn more about our Senior Dental Program 
• Click here to download the Senior Dental Program flyer
• Click here to learn more about our Veteran Dental Program
• Click here to download the Veteran Dental Program flyer

What is Oral Cancer 

Oral cancers are part of a group of head and neck cancers but are usually located in the mouth or back of the throat. Oral cancers are especially dangerous because early symptoms are usually painless and not immediately noticeable, making it one of the more deadly types of cancer. 

Common places where oral cancer can develop include:

• The base of the tongue at the back of the mouth
• Back of the throat
• Tonsils 
• Floor of the mouth 
• Between the lip and cheeks, this is a common location for those who use chewing tobacco 
• Soft tissue covering the lower jaw, this is also a common location for those who use chewing tobacco

Risk Factors

There are several risk factors that make the likelihood of developing oral cancer increase over time: 

• Age – Oral cancer is often seen in people over the age of 40, however studies are beginning to show this form of cancer in people under this age. 
• Tobacco use in any form – Smokers over the age of 50 are at an especially high risk of developing oral cancer, but other forms of tobacco use, such as chewing tobacco can increase your risk. 
• Alcohol use – Drinking heavy amounts of alcohol can put you at an especially high risk of developing oral cancer. 
• Human Papillomavirus 16 (HPV) – HPV16 is a sexually transmitted disease and currently related to an increase in oral cancer of younger adults when they become infected with the virus. 
• Continual exposure to sun or tanning beds – Exposing your skin to sunlight and laying in a tanning bed for large amounts of time can result in lip cancer.

Symptoms

Symptoms can be painless and hard to identify during the early stages of oral cancer, resulting more late-stage diagnosis, which can be fatal. Speak with your dentist or oral health specialist if you see anything suspicious, or if you experience any of the following symptoms for longer than two weeks: 

• A sore on the lip or mouth that does not heal
• White or red patch of tissue on the gums, tongue, tonsils, or mouth  
• Painless lump or mass inside the mouth or neck 
• Difficulty swallowing, speaking, chewing, and moving the jaw or tongue
• Swelling of the jaw
• Sore throat or feeling that something is caught in the throat
• Changes in the way teeth fit together in the mouth
• Hoarseness or change in voice
• Bleeding, pain, or numbness of the mouth or face 
• Persistent earache

Prevention

The American Academy of Oral Medicine states that regular oral cancer examinations done by a dentist are the best method for detecting oral cancer in its early stages. Your dentist will perform this exam during your routine dental cleaning every six months to look for anything out of the ordinary.

Oral health professionals also encourage performing a self-examination regularly to increase your chances of finding any symptoms early. Contact your dentist if you find a sore or discoloration in your mouth that does not heal in fourteen days to have it examined. Your oral health professional may suggest a biopsy of any suspicious areas. Click the self-exam fact sheet below to learn how you can give yourself a regular oral cancer examination. 

Additional resources:

• Click here to read the AAOMS Oral Cancer Fact Sheet
• Click here to read the AAOMS Warning Signs of Oral Cancer: Self-exam Fact Sheet 

Treatment

Oral health care, such as dental cleanings and the removal of bad teeth, may take place before cancer treatment to reduce the risk of future issues. Chemotherapy with radiation is the most common treatment for oral cancer, followed by surgery to reconstruct the mouth and facial features altered by late-stage cancer, if needed. Therapy may also be needed to assist with speech, chewing, and swallowing complications resulting from treatment.

Sources:

AAOM, (2014). Dental associations urge regular oral cancer examinations – early detection saves lives! The American Academy of Oral Medicine. April Is Oral Cancer Awareness Month, accessed 3.09.26.

AAOMS. Oral Cancer Fact Sheet, The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. 2017_oral_cancer_fact_sheet.pdf, accessed 3.09.26.

AAOMS. Warning Signs of Oral Cancer: Self-exam Fact Sheet, The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. oralcancerselfexam.indd, accessed 3.09.26.

Burger, D., (2023). April marks Oral Cancer Awareness Month, with HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer on the increase, ADA News. April marks Oral Cancer Awareness Month, with HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer on the increase | American Dental Association, accessed 3.09.26.

OOCF. Oral Cancer Facts: Rates of occurrence in the United States, The Oral Cancer Foundation. Oral Cancer Facts – Oral Cancer Foundation | Information and Resources about Oral Head and Neck Cancer, accessed 3.09.26.