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Oral cancer is an often deadly disease that strikes over 43,000 Americans each year. It kills one person every hour of every day. Early detection greatly improves survival chances.

At Moubry Family Dentistry, Southern Pines NC dentist Dr. Amy Moubry performs oral cancer screenings to spot the signs of this disease and help patients lead longer, healthier lives.

The Oral Cancer Exam

An oral cancer screening is a quick, comfortable, non-invasive exam of the soft tissues of your mouth. The warning signs of the disease can be hard to spot, so it’s important to have a professional perform an examination to identify symptoms that you might not see.

During the examination, Dr. Moubry will look for:

• Lumps, swellings, or thickened areas of tissue
• Velvety patches that are white, red, or a mixture of white and red
• Sores in the mouth
• Rough or crusty areas

Tell the doctor if you’re currently experiencing difficulty swallowing or chewing, a sore throat that won’t go away, a feeling that something is stuck in your throat, ear pain, unexplained oral bleeding, or anything else that is out of the ordinary.

If Dr. Moubry finds an area of tissue that she feels requires further examination, she may perform a biopsy.

Preventing Oral Cancer

Those who smoke, drink heavily, or have a family history of oral cancer are most at risk. A lot of sun exposure at an early age can contribute to the disease, too. Men develop oral cancer at a rate of 2 to 1 over women. You can lessen your risk of developing oral cancer by stopping smoking, discontinuing use of smokeless tobacco, not drinking to excess, and wearing sunscreen.

Learn More

To learn more about how to lower your oral cancer risk or to schedule an appointment, call Moubry Family Dentistry today.