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Oral
cancer will cause over 8,000 deaths, killing roughly
1 person per hour24 hours per day. Of those 30,000 newly diagnosed individuals, only half will be alive in 5 yrs. The death rate for oral cancer is higher than that of cervical cancer, Hodgkins disease, cancer of the brain, liver, ovary or skin cancer. Dentists are in the front lines in detecting cancer. Along with checking for tooth decay and gum disease, dentists are also checking for other potential problems including early warning signs of oral cancer and other forms of cancer.  About
95% of oral cancers are found in people over 45 and the average age
of diagnosis of oral cancer is 60. While potentially quite dangerous,
oral cancer is highly preventable. Those at high risk are those who
use tobacco products and those with heavy alcohol consumption levels,
especially when the two are used together.
Tobacco use is the single greatest preventable cause of disease and
death in the world today.
In Alberta alone, tobacco claims 10 lives PER DAY!
The Alberta Tobacco Reduction Strategy was created to combat this
deadly killer by establishing control initiatives to keep new users
from starting, encourage current users to quit and protect non-smokers
from the effects of secondhand smoke.
Because
of the addictive nature of tobacco products, cessation is not easy.
But, advice provided by your dentist has been shown to have a significant
impact on users’ attitudes toward quitting: those who were precontemplative
began to consider quitting and those who were on the verge of action
made a serious cessation attempt.
It is well known that dentists talk to their tobacco-using patients
about the oral health advantages of tobacco cessation. In collaboration
with the ADA&C, health regions and the Alberta Alcohol and Drug
Abuse Commission (AADAC), the Alberta Cancer Board has developed the
"Ask, Assist & Advise" program for dental offices to
work together for the cessation of tobacco use in Alberta.
This
site sponsored in part by the Canadian Dental Association |
Regular check-ups with your dentist are important. If you notice any
irregularities, ulcers, swelling or hard surfaces in or around your
mouth, you should see your dentist right away.
If you have any questions or concerns about oral cancer, be sure to
ask your dentist.
