Stick out your tongue…it could save your life

You know the drill, or hopefully you have had the experience of an "oral cancer screening"

, they grab the end of your tongue with that gross tasting gauze..

If your hygienistor dentist doesn't do this-ask for it. Some dental hygiene and dental clinics have cool equipment like velscope- that incorporates fluorescence visualization technology to help detect abnormal tissue , including cancer and precancer. Again more dental lingo I know-basically they shine a light inside your mouth and abnormal tissue fluorescesdifferently than normal tissue.

Often patients think hygienists are a bit overboard with concern, and it requires the attention of a Hollywood star being diagnosed with a "not talked about so much" disease to increase public awareness. Michael Douglas being diagnosed with oral cancer has done this. The Academy Award winner has recently been diagnosed with a tumour in his throat, and now faces an eight-week course of chemotherapy and radiotherapy

The media attention has brought this important issue to the attention of both the public and healthcareworkers.

This high profile case has brought oral cancers into the limelight, and oral health experts are keen to make the public more aware of the key risk factors and early warning signs.Afterall when was the last time a healthcare provider inspected your oral cavity? It was likley in the dental chair. Dental hygienists spendtime working closely around the teeth and tissues or the mouth - therefore throughout an approximate hour longdental cleaning they have an opportunity to screen for lesions, lumps or ulcerations that are not healing and discuss risk factors.

Tobacco is considered to be the main cause of mouth cancer, with three in four cases being linked to smoking. Drinking in excess is also a known factor, with those who both smoke and drink to excess being up 30 times more likely to be at risk.

The chief Executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, Dr Nigel Carter said: "It is crucial the public know about the risk factors and early symptoms as early detection can save lives. Survival rates can increase from just 50% to over 90% with early detection yet over two thirds of cases are diagnosed at a late stage. "Many people have not heard of mouth cancer, and do not realise how common it is latest figures show that over 5,300 cases are diagnosed in the UK in a year and that men over the age of 40 are twice as likely to develop the condition as women."

So stick your tongue out .have a lookandplease feel free to "stick your tongue out"at me in the dental hygiene clinic!!!

Stick out your tongueit could save your life

By: SALLY LLOYD

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