{"id":210,"date":"2018-04-11T09:50:36","date_gmt":"2018-04-11T09:50:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.quietcornerdental.com\/blog\/?p=210"},"modified":"2018-04-11T09:50:36","modified_gmt":"2018-04-11T09:50:36","slug":"dentist-putnam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.quietcornerdental.com\/blog\/dentist-putnam\/","title":{"rendered":"Dentist in Putnam Honors Oral Cancer Awareness Month"},"content":{"rendered":"\"close-up<\/a>April is known for the first signs of spring weather and for those first showers that bring May flowers — but your dentist in Putnam knows there is one other thing that happens this time of year. It\u2019s also Oral Cancer Awareness Month! This is a perfect moment to talk about what this disease is, what happens in a routine <\/span>oral cancer screening<\/span><\/a>, and how getting one could save your life. Keep reading for the answers to all that and more!<\/span>\r\n\r\n\r\n

What Is Oral Cancer? <\/span><\/h2>\r\nOral cancer is cancer of the gums, tongue, lips, cheeks, hard or soft palate, or throat. Its occurrence is on the rise — and it no longer affects primarily tobacco users. People who have had HPV (human papillomavirus) are at a higher risk of developing oral cancer. For this reason, diagnoses are occurring in younger and healthier patients than ever before. Rates for young men are spiking at an especially high rate. <\/span>\r\n

What Happens In an Oral Cancer Screening?<\/span><\/h2>\r\nGetting routine screenings for oral cancer is one excellent way to improve outcomes following a diagnosis. These examinations can be performed within minutes by your Putnam dentist at the end of a routine checkup and cleaning. During an oral cancer screening, you will be asked a series of questions about your oral health. Then, by looking at your face and inside your mouth and also feeling the soft tissues, the oral cavity and surrounding areas are checked for any irregularities that could indicate oral cancer. <\/span>\r\n\r\nSome of the things that your dentist is looking for during an oral cancer screening include:<\/span>\r\n