Over 40? Schedule a Dental Exam
With age comes more responsibility for taking care of your health. After 40, women are encouraged to get mammograms and check for breast cancer more frequently. Men over 40 are told to have colon cancer screenings and annual testosterone level checks. Several types of cancers and health conditions become more prevalent in your forties. Your oral health is no exception. Here are some reasons dental checkups are even more important on the other side of the hill.
Risk of Oral Cancer
According to the Oral Cancer Foundation almost 40,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral cancer this year. The predicted survival rate of those diagnosed this year is a little over half in five years. The main cause for these tragedies is simply a lack of awareness. Many oral cancer victims do not realize they are ill until the cancer is in its advanced stages. Fortunately, oral cancers like head and neck cancers, throat cancer, and mouth cancers are highly treatable when the signs are detected early.
Why Should I have a Dental Checkup?
Although oral cancer can strike anyone, at any age, your risk for oral cancer increases over the age of 40. The majority of those patients diagnosed with cancer are over the age of 40, while recently, younger and younger patients are being diagnosed. The American Dental Association strongly suggests dental checkups and cleanings every six months not only for routine preventive dentistry to fight against cavities and plaque, but also for oral cancer screenings and gum disease detection.
Oral Cancer Screenings in Fresno, CA
Want to learn more about dental health in your forties and beyond? Stay tuned to the next blog. For more information or to schedule your next dental checkup, call Drs. Alex Denes and Claudia Denes today at (559) 297-1800. Fresno Dental Studio serves patients in Fresno, Clovis, Sanger, Mendota, Orange Cove, Reedley, Selma, and the surrounding areas.