When you visit Smile Kings Dental & Orthodontics for a routine checkup, you might assume we're only looking at your teeth. But there's something else happening during every exam that you may not even notice—an oral cancer screening. April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month, and it's the perfect time to talk about why these screenings matter and what you can do to protect yourself.
Oral cancer affects tens of thousands of Americans each year, and early detection dramatically improves survival rates. The good news is that your regular dental visits already include screenings for this disease. Understanding what we look for and knowing the warning signs empowers you to play an active role in protecting your health.
Oral Cancer by the Numbers
Oral cancer includes cancers of the mouth, tongue, lips, throat, and the back of the mouth (oropharynx). According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 58,000 people in the United States will be diagnosed with oral or oropharyngeal cancer this year, and roughly 12,000 will die from the disease.
These numbers might sound alarming, but here's what matters most: when oral cancer is detected early, before it spreads to other tissues, the five-year survival rate exceeds 80 percent. Unfortunately, many oral cancers aren't discovered until later stages, when treatment becomes more difficult and outcomes less favorable.
This is exactly why routine dental exams are so valuable. Your dentist can spot suspicious changes long before you notice symptoms—often before the cancer has a chance to spread.
What We Look for During Your Screening
Every comprehensive exam at Smile Kings includes a visual and physical screening for signs of oral cancer. Here's what our team checks:
Visual Examination: We look at all the soft tissues in your mouth, including your lips, gums, tongue (top, bottom, and sides), the floor of your mouth, the roof of your mouth, the inside of your cheeks, and the back of your throat. We're looking for any unusual patches, sores, or color changes.
Physical Examination: We feel the tissues of your mouth, jaw, and neck for lumps, thickening, or other abnormalities. Some changes that aren't visible can be detected through touch.
Patient History: We ask about any symptoms you've noticed, such as persistent sores, difficulty swallowing, or unexplained bleeding. Your observations provide important information that guides our examination.
The screening takes just a few minutes and is completely painless. Most of the time, we don't find anything concerning—but when we do, early discovery makes all the difference.
Warning Signs You Shouldn't Ignore
Between dental visits, pay attention to changes in your mouth. Contact Smile Kings if you notice any of the following symptoms lasting more than two weeks:
Persistent Sores: Any sore in the mouth that doesn't heal within two weeks deserves attention
Red or White Patches: Unusual patches on the gums, tongue, tonsils, or lining of the mouth
Lumps or Thickening: Any lump, bump, or thick area in the mouth, lips, or throat
Difficulty Swallowing: Persistent trouble swallowing or the sensation that something is stuck in your throat
Chronic Sore Throat: A sore throat that won't go away, especially if accompanied by ear pain
Numbness: Loss of feeling in the mouth, face, or neck
Voice Changes: Hoarseness or changes in your voice lasting more than two weeks
Unexplained Bleeding: Bleeding in the mouth without an obvious cause
Loose Teeth: Teeth that become loose without explanation
Jaw Pain or Stiffness: Difficulty moving the jaw or pain when chewing
Weight Loss: Unexplained weight loss accompanying any of the above symptoms
Many of these symptoms have causes other than cancer, but any persistent change in your mouth should be evaluated. It's always better to have something checked and learn it's harmless than to ignore a warning sign.
Understanding Risk Factors
While oral cancer can affect anyone, certain factors increase your risk. Being aware of these risks helps you make informed decisions about your health and screening frequency.
Tobacco Use: Smoking cigarettes, cigars, or pipes, as well as using smokeless tobacco (chewing tobacco, snuff), dramatically increases oral cancer risk. Tobacco users are six times more likely to develop oral cancer than non-users.
Alcohol Consumption: Heavy alcohol use is a significant risk factor on its own. When combined with tobacco use, the risk multiplies—people who both smoke and drink heavily face a risk up to 30 times higher than those who do neither.
HPV Infection: Human papillomavirus, particularly HPV-16, is increasingly linked to oropharyngeal cancers (cancers at the back of the mouth and throat). HPV-related oral cancers have been rising, especially among younger adults who don't have traditional risk factors like tobacco use.
Sun Exposure: Prolonged sun exposure increases the risk of lip cancer. People who work outdoors or spend significant time in the sun should use lip balm with SPF protection.
Age: Oral cancer risk increases with age, with most cases diagnosed in people over 55. However, HPV-related oral cancers are changing this pattern, with more diagnoses occurring in younger adults.
Gender: Men are approximately twice as likely as women to develop oral cancer, though the gap has been narrowing.
Diet: A diet low in fruits and vegetables may contribute to increased oral cancer risk.
Reducing Your Risk
You can't control all risk factors, but you can take meaningful steps to protect yourself:
Quit Tobacco: If you use tobacco in any form, quitting is the single most important thing you can do for your oral health and overall health. Talk to your doctor about cessation programs and resources.
Limit Alcohol: If you drink, do so in moderation. The combination of alcohol and tobacco creates exponentially higher risk than either substance alone.
Protect Your Lips: Use lip balm with SPF 30 or higher when spending time outdoors, even on cloudy days.
Eat Well: A diet rich in fruits and vegetables provides antioxidants and nutrients that may help protect against cancer development.
Practice Good Oral Hygiene: While oral hygiene doesn't directly prevent cancer, keeping your mouth healthy makes it easier to spot changes that need attention.
Get Vaccinated: The HPV vaccine protects against the strains of HPV most commonly linked to oral and other cancers. The vaccine is recommended for preteens but can be given through age 45 for those who weren't vaccinated earlier.
Keep Your Dental Appointments: Regular checkups ensure you receive consistent screenings and catch any changes early.
What Happens if We Find Something Suspicious
If our team notices anything unusual during your screening, don't panic. Most findings turn out to be benign conditions like canker sores, irritation from dental appliances, or minor infections.
When we identify something that needs further evaluation, we may:
Monitor the area and have you return for a follow-up in a few weeks
Refer you to an oral surgeon or specialist for additional testing
Recommend a biopsy to determine whether cells are cancerous
A biopsy—removing a small sample of tissue for laboratory analysis—is the only definitive way to diagnose oral cancer. If cancer is detected, early-stage diagnosis typically means less invasive treatment and better outcomes.
The Importance of Routine Visits
Many people only visit the dentist when something hurts. But oral cancer often develops without causing pain in its early stages. By the time symptoms become noticeable, the cancer may have progressed.
Regular dental exams—typically every six months—ensure consistent screening and give us the opportunity to track any changes over time. We maintain records of your oral health, so we can identify when something has changed since your last visit.
At Smile Kings Dental & Orthodontics, comprehensive care means looking at the big picture of your oral health. Our team takes the time to perform thorough examinations because we care about our patients as whole people, not just their teeth.
Schedule Your Checkup Today
If it's been more than six months since your last dental exam, this Oral Cancer Awareness Month is the perfect reminder to schedule your visit. Regular screenings are one of the most important things you can do to protect yourself against oral cancer.
Contact Smile Kings Dental & Orthodontics at our Zarzamora Street or Bandera Road location to book your appointment. Our San Antonio team is here to keep your smile healthy and catch potential problems early—because when it comes to oral cancer, early detection saves lives.