{"id":258,"date":"2022-04-08T13:20:00","date_gmt":"2022-04-08T13:20:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.spirosaatidmd.com\/blog\/?p=258"},"modified":"2022-05-20T13:32:36","modified_gmt":"2022-05-20T13:32:36","slug":"things-to-know-for-oral-cancer-awareness-month","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.spirosaatidmd.com\/blog\/2022\/04\/08\/things-to-know-for-oral-cancer-awareness-month\/","title":{"rendered":"Things to Know for Oral Cancer Awareness Month"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Oral<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

If you didn\u2019t already know, April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month. It\u2019s a time when many reflect on this disease\u2019s toll on the global population. For instance, it\u2019s estimated that 54,000 new cases will be diagnosed in the U.S this year. Among those new cases, 43 percent will not survive longer than five years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As people remember those lost to oral cancer, they\u2019d be wise to consider how to prevent it as well. In that spirit, here\u2019s a guide that explains oral cancer\u2019s nature, risk factors, and symptoms, as well as how to have your dentist<\/a> check for it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

What is Oral Cancer?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Oral cancer is a cancer variant that develops in your mouth or throat. Like other types, it involves the uncontrolled division of the body\u2019s cells.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More specifically, oral cancers are divided into oral cavity cancers and those of the oropharynx. The former includes cancers that affect the lips’ and cheeks’ interior, the tongue’s front section, the gums, etc. The latter, also called oropharyngeal cancer, are throat cancers affecting the tonsils and tongue base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oral Cancer\u2019s Risk Factors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Research has identified several factors that increase oral cancer risk:<\/p>\n\n\n\n