As your dental professional, we're full of good reasons why you should visit the dentist on a regular basis. Preventing decay, maintaining good oral health and making sure your smile is as attractive as possible are all good incentives to visit us at least twice a year, but you probably don't give much thought to another serious reason to have your mouth checked regularly: oral cancer screenings.

According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, oral cancer - which includes mouth cancer, tongue cancer and throat cancer - is a serious worldwide concern. You can lower your risk of oral cancer by refraining from tobacco products in any form, avoiding alcohol or drinking only in monderation, and using a lip balm that contains sunscreen to protect you lips from harmful UV rays. Awareness of the telltale signs of the disease is also important. Oral cancers have an 80 to 90 percent cure rate if the cancer is found early.

It's easy to dismiss a small lump or irritation in the mouth as a cold sore or a bite to the inside of your cheek. However, knowing now how critical early diagnosis is to long-term survival, if you have any doubts about suspicious spots or sores on your lips, tongue or anywhere in your mouth, please make sure that you call us for an appointment so we can examine you closely.