Oral cancer is more common than many people realize, and like most cancers, it is far more treatable when caught early. The challenge is that its earliest signs are often painless and easy to overlook, which is why routine professional screening is so valuable. A quick, painless oral cancer screening can detect warning signs long before they would ever cause symptoms you might notice on your own. At Infinite Dental Wellness in Glendale, CA, Dr. Leon Kiraj and Dr. Liana Muradyan include oral cancer screenings as part of comprehensive preventive care, giving you an added layer of protection and peace of mind.
This page explains what an oral cancer screening involves, how often you should have one, who is most at risk, what warning signs to watch for, and how you can lower your risk. Understanding the importance of screening is one of the most empowering things you can do for your long-term health.
Is It Common to Have an Oral Cancer Screening?
Yes. Oral cancer screenings are a routine and important part of modern dental care. In fact, you may have already received screenings without realizing it, because many dentists incorporate them seamlessly into regular checkups. The screening is quick, noninvasive, and painless, and it adds only a few minutes to your visit. Given how much is at stake and how easy the screening is, it has become a standard component of thorough preventive dentistry. At our Glendale office, we believe that this small step is one of the most worthwhile parts of caring for your overall health.
What Does an Oral Cancer Screening Entail?
An oral cancer screening is a careful visual and physical examination of your mouth and the surrounding areas. During the screening, your dentist examines your lips, gums, tongue, the floor and roof of your mouth, the insides of your cheeks, and the back of your throat, looking for any abnormal tissue or warning signs. We also feel the tissues of your mouth, jaw, and neck to check for unusual lumps, swelling, or changes that may not be visible.
Specifically, your dentist is looking for things such as:
- Sores or ulcers that do not heal within a couple of weeks
- Red or white patches on the soft tissues of the mouth
- Lumps, thickenings, or rough spots in the mouth or on the lips
- Unexplained bleeding or numbness
- Difficulty swallowing or a persistent feeling of something caught in the throat
- Changes in the way your teeth fit together
The entire process is painless and comfortable. If your dentist notices anything that looks unusual, we will discuss it with you and recommend appropriate next steps, which may include monitoring the area over time or referring you for further evaluation. It is important to remember that an abnormal finding does not necessarily mean cancer, but it does mean the area deserves closer attention.
How Frequently Should I Have an Oral Cancer Screening?
For most patients, having an oral cancer screening at each regular dental checkup, typically about twice a year, is an excellent way to stay protected. Because the screening is so quick and is easily combined with your routine exam and cleaning, there is rarely any reason to skip it. Patients with higher risk factors may benefit from more frequent attention, and your dentist will recommend the right schedule based on your individual health history, habits, and any findings. Consistent screening over time also helps us notice subtle changes, since we become familiar with what is normal for your mouth.
Who Is Susceptible to Getting Oral Cancer?
Oral cancer can affect anyone, but certain factors increase the risk. Being aware of these risk factors can help you and your dentist stay especially vigilant. Common risk factors include:
- Tobacco use of any kind, including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and chewing tobacco
- Heavy or frequent alcohol consumption, especially combined with tobacco
- Significant sun exposure, which raises the risk of lip cancer
- Infection with certain strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV)
- A personal or family history of cancer
- Age, as risk tends to increase as people get older
- A diet low in fruits and vegetables
While these factors increase risk, it is important to understand that oral cancer can also develop in people with no known risk factors at all. That is precisely why routine screening for everyone is so valuable. You do not have to fall into a high-risk category to benefit from the early detection that screening provides.
Do You Treat Oral Cancer?
Our role at Infinite Dental Wellness is focused on screening and early detection rather than the treatment of oral cancer itself. Cancer treatment is handled by medical specialists such as oncologists and oral surgeons. If we identify an area of concern during your screening, we will guide you on the next steps and, when appropriate, refer you to the right specialist for further evaluation and care. By catching potential problems early and connecting you with the proper resources, we help ensure that you receive timely attention when it matters most. Early detection truly is one of the most powerful tools in improving outcomes.
When to Call Us
While routine screenings are the cornerstone of early detection, you should also pay attention to changes in your own mouth between visits. Contact us promptly if you notice any of the following:
- A sore in your mouth or on your lip that does not heal within two weeks
- A red or white patch that persists
- A lump, thickening, or rough area inside your mouth
- Persistent pain, numbness, or tenderness
- Difficulty or discomfort when chewing, swallowing, or moving your tongue or jaw
- A persistent feeling that something is caught in your throat
- Unexplained bleeding in the mouth
If you experience any of these symptoms, do not wait for your next scheduled appointment. Call our Glendale office at (818) 541-1110 so we can evaluate the concern. In most cases these symptoms turn out to be harmless, but having them checked promptly is always the wise choice.
How Can I Prevent Oral Cancer?
While not all cases of oral cancer can be prevented, you can take meaningful steps to lower your risk and protect your health. We encourage all of our patients to adopt the following habits:
- Avoid all forms of tobacco, and seek help quitting if you currently use it
- Limit alcohol consumption
- Protect your lips from excessive sun exposure with SPF lip balm
- Eat a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables
- Maintain good oral hygiene with daily brushing and flossing
- Stay current with regular dental checkups and screenings
- Talk with your physician about the HPV vaccine, which may reduce certain risks
These same habits support your overall oral and general health, so they offer benefits well beyond cancer prevention. Combined with routine professional screenings, they form a strong, proactive defense.
Understanding the Symptoms of Oral Cancer
One of the reasons oral cancer can be so dangerous is that its early symptoms are often subtle and painless, easy to dismiss as a minor irritation or a passing sore. Learning to recognize the warning signs empowers you to seek help promptly. The most common symptom is a sore or ulcer in the mouth or on the lips that does not heal within about two weeks. Other signs include persistent red or white patches, a lump or thickening in the soft tissues, and rough or crusty areas. Some people experience numbness, tenderness, or pain in the mouth, face, or neck, while others notice difficulty chewing, swallowing, or moving the jaw and tongue.
Additional symptoms can include a chronic sore throat, a feeling that something is caught in the throat, a change in your voice, loose teeth without an obvious cause, or a change in the way your dentures or your bite fit together. Unexplained bleeding or ear pain on one side may also occur. It is important to keep these signs in perspective: the vast majority of mouth sores and irritations are completely harmless and resolve on their own. However, because early detection makes such a profound difference, anything that persists beyond two weeks deserves a professional evaluation. When in doubt, have it checked, it is always better to be reassured than to wait.
What Happens After a Screening
If your screening is clear, which is the case for most patients, you can simply continue with your regular schedule of checkups and screenings, knowing you have taken a proactive step for your health. If your dentist notices an area that looks unusual, there is no need to panic. An abnormal finding is not a diagnosis of cancer; many benign conditions can cause similar changes. Depending on what we observe, we may recommend monitoring the area over a short period to see whether it resolves on its own, or we may refer you to a specialist for further evaluation. Throughout the process, our team will explain what we are seeing, answer your questions, and make sure you understand your options, so you always feel informed and supported.
The Importance of Early Detection
The single most important reason to have regular oral cancer screenings is that early detection dramatically improves treatment outcomes. When abnormal tissue is identified in its earliest stages, treatment tends to be more successful and less invasive. By contrast, oral cancer that is discovered later, after it has had time to grow or spread, can be far more difficult to treat. Because a screening takes only a few minutes and is completely painless, it offers an extraordinary return on a very small investment of time, potentially saving your health and even your life.
Preventive Care for the Glendale Community
At Infinite Dental Wellness, we view oral cancer screening as part of our broader commitment to the health of the Glendale community. We believe that prevention and early detection are the foundation of lifelong wellness, and we make these screenings a routine, stress-free part of caring for our patients. Conveniently located and welcoming to patients of all ages, our office makes it easy for local families to stay on top of their preventive care. We also offer same-day emergency visits when an urgent concern arises, so help is always close at hand.
Why Choose Infinite Dental Wellness
Infinite Dental Wellness is led by Dr. Leon Kiraj and Dr. Liana Muradyan, a USC-trained husband-and-wife team devoted to thorough, compassionate, and preventive-focused dentistry. Our practice is rated 4.9 stars on Google with more than 300 reviews, reflecting the trust our patients place in us for their care. We are a mercury-free office, we welcome patients of every age, and we provide same-day emergency care. When you visit us, you can be confident that your checkups are comprehensive and that your long-term health is always our priority.
Schedule Your Oral Cancer Screening Today
Protecting your health starts with prevention, and an oral cancer screening is one of the simplest, most valuable steps you can take. Make it a regular part of your dental care. Call Infinite Dental Wellness in Glendale, CA at (818) 541-1110 to schedule your checkup and screening. If you have noticed any changes or concerns in your mouth, do not wait, reach out today so we can help give you peace of mind.