April is National Oral Cancer Awareness Month. According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, approximately 43,000 people will be newly diagnosed with oral cancer this year. Smoking and tobacco use have always been major risk factors for oral cancer; however, there has been a rise in young, nonsmoking adults due to the spread of the HPV virus.
Dentists are often the first line of defense in the early detection process of oral cancer. Cleanings at least twice a year allow our dentists in Gainesville to do a thorough oral cancer screening. Opportunistic screening is our best chance at early detection and treatment. This is just one of the many important reasons to not let your regular visits to the dentist lapse. If it has been longer than six months since your last cleaning, call to schedule an appointment.