• Facebook
  • Twitter
(717) 367-1560 Map Email

Knowlton Dental Elizabethtown PA

  • Home
  • Our Dentistry
    • General
      • Root Canals
      • TMJ TMD
    • Preventive
      • Digital X-rays
      • Exams & Cleanings
      • Oral Cancer Screening
    • Sports Dentistry
      • Custom Mouthguards
      • Dental Injuries
    • Cosmetic
      • A Smile Makeover
      • Crowns
      • Tooth Whitening
      • Veneers
      • ZOOM! Teeth Whitening
    • Restorative Dentistry
      • Crowns
      • Dentures
      • Implants
    • Patient Store
    • All Services
  • Patients
    • Patient Portal
    • Finance
    • Make a Payment
    • Forms
    • Office Reviews
    • Patient Reviews
    • Patient Testimonials
    • Patient Store
    • Community & Events
    • Contact Us
  • About
    • Dentists
    • Dental Assistants
    • Hygienists
    • Office Team
    • Our Office Location
    • Our Office Blog
    • E-Town Community
    • Contact Us
  • Patient Store

How do I prevent oral cancer?

How do I prevent oral cancer?

March 22, 2016 Blog

The fact is, according to the Oral Cancer Foundation, close to 40,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral or pharyngeal cancer this year, resulting in more than 8,000 deaths. Men face twice the risk of developing oral cancer as women, and men who are over age 50 face the greatest risk. The American Cancer Society recommends an oral cancer screening exam every three years for people over the age of 20 and annually for those over age 40. The five-year survival rate is only 50 percent, and oral cancer, which is the sixth-most common diagnosed form of the disease, is one of the few cancers whose survival rate has not improved. Today, Dr. Richard Knowlton and our team would like to take this opportunity to remind all of our patients about the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene to prevent the disease.

So, what can you do at home to take an active role in preventing oral cancer?

The American Cancer Society recommends an oral cancer screening exam every three years for people over the age of 20 and annually for those over age 40. In addition, we encourage you to:

  1. Conduct a self-exam regularly. Using a bright light and a mirror, look at and feel your lips and gums. Try tilting your head back to look at and feel the roof of your mouth, and pull your cheeks out to look inside of your mouth, the lining of your cheeks, and your back gums. Pull out your tongue and look at all surfaces. Feel for lumps or enlarged lymph nodes in both sides of your neck and under your lower jaw. Please give us a call immediately if you notice any changes in the appearance of your mouth or any of the signs and symptoms mentioned above.
  2. Don’t smoke or use any tobacco products and drink alcohol in moderation.
  3. Eat a well-balanced diet. This includes eating a wide variety of foods from the five primary food groups on a daily basis to meet the recommended amounts of vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, proteins, and fats you need in a given day.
  4. Limit your exposure to the sun. Repeated exposure increases the risk of cancer on the lips, especially the lower lip. When out in the sun, be sure to use UV-A/B-blocking sun protective lotions on your skin as well as your lips.

Please let us know if you have any questions about your oral health, either during your next scheduled visit, by giving us a call, or asking us on Facebook.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Tumblr
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
St. Patrick’s Day
What are the advantages of dental implants?

Related Posts

  • The Effects of Sleep Apnea on Dental Health
    Sleep apnea is an increasingly common medical condition, and one that can have a truly
    December 3, 2021
  • What’s the connection between gum disease and diabetes?
    People who have diabetes are usually familiar with many of the other health risks they
    November 20, 2021
Recent Posts
  • The Effects of Sleep Apnea on Dental Health
  • What’s the connection between gum disease and diabetes?
  • PAGD Golf Tournament in Honor of Dr Richard Knowlton
  • Considering Teeth Whitening? Read this first.
  • Are your teeth ready for the big day?
  • 5 Fun Things to do with Your Old Toothbrush
  • Does Xlear Nasal Spray really work to fight against COVID-19?
  • Pros and Cons of Mouthwash
  • To Eat or Not To Eat
  • Keep Your Summer Smile Happy
PATIENT STORE
  • All Services
  • General Dentistry
  • Preventive Dentistry
  • Sports Dentistry
  • Cosmetic Dentistry
  • Restorative Dentistry
  • Patient Store
  • Patient Store
  • Office Reviews
  • Patient Reviews
  • Patient Testimonials
  • Patient Resources
  • Make a Payment
  • Community
  • Blog
  • About Us
  • Contact Us


Knowlton Dental Associates

At Knowlton Dental Associates, the heart of our practice is our patient. For over 30 years, Dr. Knowlton and his gentle and patient-centered staff have been treating every person who walks through our doors with open arms and a dedication to their health, comfort, and happiness.

Our office is located on High Street in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania (aka Etown) and offers dentistry to patients from the surrounding Central PA region including: Mount Joy, Mt Joy, Hershey, Lancaster County, Middletown, Harrisburg, Manheim, Lititz, York, and Columbia.

OUR SERVICES
  • All Services
  • General Dentistry
  • Preventive Dentistry
  • Sports Dentistry
  • Cosmetic Dentistry
  • Restorative Dentistry
  • Patient Store
MORE LINKS
  • Patient Store
  • Office Reviews
  • Patient Reviews
  • Patient Testimonials
  • Patient Resources
  • Make a Payment
  • Community
  • Blog
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
Knowlton Dental Associates
102 W. High St Elizabethtown, PA 17022
Phone: 717-367-1560
Dentist for Sports Dentistry, Ortho, Cosmetic, Implants & Sleep Apnea
We ♥ our Patients!
Website by Tom
Accessibility
Font Resize
Contrast
  • Skip to main content