Why is My Dentist Looking at My Tongue?

5/19/2021

Oral Cancer is on the rise. The American Cancer Society predicts that over 54,000 people will be diagnosed with oral cancer in 2021. However, when it is caught early, oral cancer has a high survival rate. That being said, one of our biggest jobs as a dentist is to screen our patients for oral cancer.
Oral cancer can present in many different ways. Signs of oral cancer can include the following:

White or gray patches under and around the tongue
White or gray patches on the inside of the cheek and near the throat
Growths on the lips, gums, and roof of the mouth
Lumps around the jawbone and neck area

Therefore, as dentists, when we complete our exam, we are looking for all of these signs. Some dentists are very vocal about explaining exactly what they are doing. I will admit, I am not one of these dentists. Usually I am too busy talking to the patient to explain everything I’m doing. It is easy to forget that as a patient you have no idea what I’m doing when I grab your tongue and look around. However, this part of the exam is as important as the part of the exam where we look at your teeth and x-rays.
It is also important to remember that there are a few risk factors that make you more susceptible to oral cancer. Family history or a history of smoking or alcohol abuse can increase your chances of getting oral cancer. So please make sure you tell your dentist about any risk factors that you have.
I hope this clears up why dentists do weird things during your exam, besides looking at your teeth, that you might not understand. We are trying our best to keep you safe. Remember that by seeing your dentist regularly and monitoring yourself in between exams, you can keep yourself safe and we can catch any problems before they become serious. So, if it has been awhile since your last visit, don’t wait! Schedule today!

1 Comment

Taft Hill Orthodontics link

12/3/2021 12:41:36 am

It was nice reading this blog post! It's very informative. Oral cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the mouth or anywhere in the throat and first appears as a painless lump, sore, patch or ulcer on the tongue, cheek or tonsils. It first appears as a painless lump, sore, patch or ulcer on the tongue, cheek or tonsils. The most common risk factors for oral cancers are smoking and drinking alcohol.

Symptoms:

* A sore throat that won't go away
* Mouth and throat pain that won't go away
* A lump in your neck or jawline

Author

Born in Saint Petersburg, Florida, Ariana displayed bright intelligence from an early age, eventually becoming salutatorian for her graduating class at Dixie-Hollins High School. She went on to earn a bachelor's degree in nutritional sciences from the University of Florida at Gainesville, and continued her education to earn her dental degree in 2004 from the University of Florida College of Dentistry. It's worth noting that the College of Dentistry is ranked seventh among all dental schools in the United States, and it has an international reputation for the caliber of its graduates. Through continuing education programs, Dr. Clayton maintains her training on the most up-to-date and successful dental treatment techniques, and she strives to incorporate the best of newly available techniques into her practice. Sunshine Smile Designs is proud to offer this high level of care at an affordable price to many patients. Beyond her daily practice, Dr. Clayton is a volunteer for Dentistry From the Heart, a program that provides dental services at no cost to the indigent in Florida. Likewise, she also regularly attends mission trips to provide free dental services to blind and deaf children in an impoverished area of Jamaica. Ariana enjoys spending time with her nine-year-old son and her husband, who is also a University of Florida–trained dentist. Her artistic side is fulfilled by playing (and teaching) piano and by photography. She also enjoys travel, and one of her life goals is to visit all fifty states by recreational vehicle!