HPV and Oral Cancer Prevention – Clinton Township Dental Patients
HPV or Human Papillomavirus has been a topic throughout the dental circle and this is due to it’s connection to oral cancer. Oropharyngeal cancer, or cancer of the back of the tongue and tonsils, used to be usually affiliated with smoking and alcohol consumption, however, fairly recently this kind of cancer has been associated with HPV. So what exactly is HPV and just how is it prevented?
What is HPV?
Human Papillomavirus or HPV is an std that can present itself in over 100 variations. It’s estimated that about three fourths of individuals who are sexually active will have gotten HPV in their lifetime. Often, there aren’t any symptoms of HPV and after about two years, the human body can naturally eliminate the virus. Yet, there are kinds of HPV that can cause cancer or warts and these types of HPV are thought to be “high risk”. These high risk strains are known to cause cervical cancer in females and oral cancer in both women and men.
Prevention of HPV
Since HPV is sexually transmitted, prevention is best achieved by refraining from sexual activity, which includes oral sex, or practicing safe sex. Additionally there is a vaccination available which has been approved by the FDA for females aged 9 to 26 years old called Gardasil. Always make sure to think about the dangers involved and take care to help lessen your risk of getting HPV and possibly oral cancer.
Oral Cancer and HPS Advanced Dental Care
Oral cancer is something that we look for in every single patient here at HPS Advanced Dental Care. An oral cancer screening consisting of visual checking and palpitations to the head, neck and oral cavity is performed at every checkup. As part of your routine dental exam, we make certain to look for any abnormal sores, white or red patches, lumps or thickening of the skin on the inside of the mouth, earaches, bleeding, soreness of the jaw or throat, problems with swallowing or speech, and proper fitting of dentures. Usually, oral cancer presents on the tongue, bottom of the mouth, and soft palate tissues on the lips and gums and back of the tongue. If you are experiencing any prolonged soreness, swelling in your mouth or neck, white or red patches on your mouth or lips, bleeding in your throat or mouth, difficulty swallowing or constant hoarseness, call your dentist right away. If caught during the early stages, oral cancer has a high survival rate, so make sure to see your dentist on a regular basis.
HPV and Oral Cancer Prevention – Clinton Township Dental Patients
If you have any additional inquiries about HPV and oral cancer prevention in Clinton Township, Michigan, please go to our website midentalwellness.com or call our office at (248) 652-0024.
