How Long Has It Been Since Your Last Oral Cancer Screening?

A smile’s health should be a top priority for a number of individuals, especially if a lifelong grin is a major goal on their list. Indeed, great focus is put into how your smile appears, but bear in mind that its function is of major importance as well. In fact, part of excellent preventive care is acknowledging just how much goes into taking care of your smile, and it extends past the notion of healthy teeth. In today’s blog, your Houston, TX dentist will take a look at what really goes on during your routine checkup, specifically focusing on your oral cancer screening.

Part of Your Standard Checkup

Contrary to popular belief, your routine examination serves many more purposes than just a cavity hunt. In fact, our team makes sure to not only check your teeth for signs of trauma, damage, decay, or infection, but we investigate every aspect that contributes to your oral health. This includes your gums, cheeks, tongue, lips, and throat as well to ensure proper development and no indication of major concerns or abnormalities, most importantly oral cancer.

It Can Affect Anyone

When you attend your routine visit, our team pays mind to not only check on your immediate oral concerns, but other problems that may arise as well. Indeed, our team will perform an oral cancer screening in order to ensure you’re in good shape. This consists of carefully looking for sores, lumps, rough spots with red or white discoloration, and other abnormalities. We pride ourselves in the quality care with provide our patients, and your smile is our top priority. The sad truth of the matter is that oral cancer is not unique to smoking cigarettes alone, and can actually affect anyone of all ages, from young children to older adults and everyone in-between. For more information about this process or to learn more about your preventive visit, feel free to contact our team today.

Staying on Top of Preventive Care

When it comes to your oral health, the biggest piece of advice we can give is to ensure you are practicing an involved preventive care routine at home and try to avoid risky behaviors or substances that increase your chances of developing oral cancer. These behaviors can consist of persistent cigarette smoking, indulging in alcohol, and more. What’s more, it is up to you to hold yourself accountable and ensure you are maintaining a healthy routine of brushing and flossing. If you are uncertain about the quality of your routine, our team would be more than happy to provide additional information.

Schedule Your Visit

For more information about oral cancer or to schedule your appointment with our team, contact Sue Ellen Richardson, DDS in Houston, TX by calling 713-796-9600 today.