The Simple Self Examination that could Save Your Life
By now most people are familiar with the idea of self-breast examinations aimed at early detection of any abnormal lumps that may be the beginning of breast cancer. When the enemy is cancer early detection can be your best defense and being able to identify when something is not quiet right between your regular medical check ups may very well save your life. Your doctor or dental provider should do oral examinations at least once a year. For those of you with that naughty habit of smoking, every six months. Too often patients with dentures assume the need for regular check ups is over, nothing could be further from the truth. Lurking under those dentures very serious tissue anomalies can be developing that by the time symptoms are severe enough to notice, you may already be too late.
A serious neoplasm that is found early in its development can often be quickly removed with a good probability of no further complications. However if left untreated for even a short while, opens the possibility for cancerous cells to transfer to other parts of the body referred to as metastasize. Once this has occurred these other locations may be much more difficult to detect and assess making treatment more complicated and the chances for survival decreased. Oral malignancies constitute 5 to 8 percent of all malignant tumors. From 90 to 95 percent of these occur in the mucousal tissues lining your mouth, and are generally easy to detect with a little effort.
This is why a self-exam is a good practice to adopt as a part of your health regime. Usually in front of the bathroom mirror is an adequate place to do this provided you have an adequate light source that will illuminate the inside of your mouth. To begin wash your hands well and remove your dentures. Gently palpate (press) on the tissues running down your jaw line feeling for any abnormal lumps or bumps. Then place two fingers on each side of your throat and gently palpate the soft tissue areas underneath the jaw and thyroid area, again feeling for any unusual lumps, swellings, or areas of discomfort. Now move to the lips, with two hands gently grasp the lower lip and pull it out and downwards. Examine the inside and the corners of the mouth looking for any unusual tissue formation, for example, a shallow depression in the tissue, a small wound that appears to have a clearly defined border different from the surrounding tissue, or perhaps an unusual color. Do the same for the upper lip by gently pulling it upwards.
Now grasp the cheek wall with a thumb and forefinger and gently pull it outwards looking well back on the cheek walls. Looking carefully down the tissue as it joins into the gum line. Don't be afraid to stick your finger right in there and gently palpate these tissues again feeling for any unusual lumps or bumps. Now lift the tongue to the roof of the mouth examining the soft tissues of the floor of the mouth. Place your finger down into these soft tissues palpate the salivary glands for any unusual formations. With a piece of gauze grab hold of the tip of your tongue and ease it outwards, examine both the left and right borders far back into the mouth as well as the top and underside. Some of the most nasty neoplasm's can be developing way back almost beyond sight. Opening wide use a finger or a tooth brush as a tongue depressor and examine the tissues on the back of the throat, you won't want to palpate this area as you will most likely gag.
Finally move to the roof of your mouth and again visually examine, palpate all hard and soft tissue areas.
So what to do if you find something? Don't panic, the majority of discoveries are innocent in nature or benign neoplasm's (non-cancerous tissue growths.) Make an appointment with your medical doctor or dental provider for a complete check up.