HPV and Oral Cancer Prevention for Washington Township Dental Patients
HPV or Human Papillomavirus has been a matter throughout the dental circle which is on account of it’s connection to oral cancer. Oropharyngeal cancer, or cancer of the back of the tongue and tonsils, was most often related to smoking and drinking, however, fairly recently this kind of cancer has been linked to HPV. So what exactly is HPV and how is it prevented?
What is HPV?
Human Papillomavirus or HPV is a sexually transmitted disease that can present itself in over 100 variations. It’s estimated that around three fourths of individuals who are sexually active will have had HPV in their lifetime. In many cases, there aren’t any the signs of HPV and after about two years, the body can naturally get rid of the virus. Having said that, there are kinds of HPV that can cause cancer or warts and these types of HPV are viewed as “high risk”. These high risk strains are known to cause cervical cancer in females and oral cancer in both women and men.
Prevention against HPV
Since HPV is sexually transmitted, prevention is best attained by abstaining from sexual activity, such as oral sex, or practicing safe sex. There is also a vaccination available which has been approved by the FDA for girls aged 9 to 26 years old called Gardasil. Always be certain to take into consideration the dangers involved and take care to help decrease your risk of getting HPV and possibly oral cancer.
Oral Cancer and HPS Advanced Dental Care
Oral cancer is something that we look for in every single patient here at HPS Advanced Dental Care. An oral cancer screening consisting of visual checking and palpitations to the head, neck and oral cavity is done at each checkup. As part of your routine dental exam, we make sure to look for any unusual sores, white or red patches, lumps or thickening of the skin on the inside of the mouth, earaches, bleeding, soreness of the jaw or throat, complications with swallowing or speech, and proper fitting of dentures. Generally, oral cancer presents on the tongue, bottom of the mouth, and soft palate tissues on the lips and gums and back of the tongue. Should you be experiencing any prolonged soreness, swelling in your mouth or neck, white or red patches on your mouth or lips, bleeding in your throat or mouth, trouble swallowing or constant hoarseness, visit your dentist right away. If caught in the early stages, oral cancer has a high rate of survival, so make sure to see your dentist on a regular basis.
HPV and Oral Cancer Prevention for Washington Township Dental Patients
If you have any further questions regarding HPV and oral cancer prevention, please go to our website midentalwellness.com or call our office at (248) 652-0024.
