Mouth Cancer, importance of early diagnosis. - Tooronga Family Dentistry in Glen Iris

With 650,000 people affected by oral cancer, a year worldwide, it is the sixth most common form of cancer. While patients may overlook its early signs, such as lumps or irregular tissue changes, we dentists are more likely to see them. This the reason why in my general exam for each patient, I scan for changes in the mouth that may hint to it.

“Early diagnosis is imperative in order to save lives. Head and neck cancers are vicious and debilitating when detected late,” said Dr. Vinod Joshi, founder of the Mouth Cancer Foundation. “This is the reason why we stress the importance of regular dental examinations to ensure that any abnormalities are caught early on.” Next, the organization has released a video featuring television personality Dr. Dawn Harper that shows how people can check themselves for cancer. The simple, 2-minute process only requires clean fingers, a bright light, and a mirror. According to the group, everyone older than 16 should perform the test once a month after they have cleaned their teeth.

Please don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Kaufman or to call today Tooronga Family Dentistry, phone number 98227006, for more information about mouth cancer or to make an appointment to have your mouth, gums and teeth checked.