There are a lot of illnesses and disorders that can befall the human body in general, and your mouth in particular. While periodontal services in Long Island are usually more concerned with the overall health of your gums and teeth, one very serious condition that a dental expert can help with catching in your mouth is oral cancer.

What Is Oral Cancer?

While most of us have heard the word cancer, and may even have some experience it, or know of someone with cancer, the word “cancer” is hardly descriptive of what this illness is. Cancer is a catch-all medical term used to describe a variety of different disorders that arise when cells no longer behave—or reproduce—in the way they are supposed to. This can result in anything from pain, to sores to any other number of different symptoms, but they all have the same root; cells do not behave in the programmed way, and this “rebellion” has different side effects.

Cancers have different causes, and while periodontal services in Long Island may be extremely helpful in detecting oral cancer, the exact cause can vary from person to person. Some people, for example, may contract oral cancer through no discernable cause at all; it may just happen. On the other hand, others may have a very obvious source, such as heavy smokers, who are always at much higher risk of both lung and oral cancer due to the constant exposure tobacco smoke, which has many known carcinogenic—that is to say, cancer causing—substances.

Symptoms

Even before you come in to make use of periodontal services in Long Island, you may already be aware of certain symptoms that could possibly indicate the presence of oral cancer. Of course, it’s important to have medical experts make the final confirmation, as the presence of certain symptoms could mean disorders or illnesses other than oral cancer.

Pain in the mouth, gums, or throat, for example, are possible symptoms. The development of sores on the mouth or gums is another. Swelling the throat, difficulty speaking, or even sudden, unexplained numbness or loss of feeling in parts of your mouth, throat or face could all be possible symptoms. On the other hand, some of these symptoms could also be indicators of gum disease, which is a different problem entirely from oral cancer.

Get It Checked Properly

With experienced, professional periodontal services in Long Island, it’s possible to get a quick, easy, advanced screening for oral cancer as part of a standard check-up. New screening techniques such as VELscope® Vx can quickly scan a mouth for tissue and mucosal abnormalities. The process involves exposing the mouth and gums to certain frequencies of light and measuring that light response to known, “normal” parameters. In this way, a mouth can be quickly scanned in just a few minutes, with no significant discomfort, for any metabolic, cellular, or structural abnormalities that may indicate a problem. It’s just one more way for proactive people to stay healthy and catch problems early!