According to data by the Costa Rica’s Social Security Service (CCSS), every week 3 Costa Ricans are diagnosed with oral cancer, and 2 die as a consequence of it. In the United States and according to the Oral Cancer Foundation “Close to 49,750 Americans will be diagnosed with oral oropharyngeal cancer this year. It will cause over 9,750 deaths, killing roughly 1 person per hour, 24 hours per day. Of those 49,750 newly diagnosed individuals, only slightly more than half will be alive in 5 years”.

The rates are alarming, and it goes on to confirm that there is a higher incidence of this illness in men than in women, and it is most common on individuals between the ages of 20-64.

Oral Cancer is part of the head and neck cancers and it can affect the lips, tongue, cheeks, floor of the mouth, hard and soft palate, sinuses and throat.

This form of cancer is associated with unhealthy lifestyles, and it many times goes unnoticed because in its early stages it may not present specific symptoms or pain, therefore it is generally diagnosed late in its development.

People that smoke tobacco and drink alcohol, hot beverages, or inhale any kind of smoke through their mouth have a higher risk of developing oral cancer; the infection with human papillomavirus has also been linked to oral cancer.

“The fact that people have poor oral health and a lot of the population goes a long time without visiting the dentist, makes matters worse”, explained Dr. Simon Flikier, and he continued, “dentists are trained to properly and thoroughly examine the patients mouth, and can see signs of cancers or pre-cancers of the mouth and throat during their physical evaluation; if there is a reason to suspect something is not right the patient is alerted and referred to a trained physician that specializes in this form of cancer and who can run tests and exams to confirm or discard the presence of cancerous cells”.

From persistent ulcers, or sores that don’t heal for more than two weeks; lumps, areas that show white or red spots or patches of tissue, difficulty chewing or swallowing, chronic sore throat or unexplained bleeding in the mouth, these could all be symptoms of oral cancer.

A visit to the dentist every six months can save your life; “it is not just about having a beautiful smile, although this is also important, visiting the dentist and having a good professional to look after your oral health is important for your overall health and the prevention of serious diseases”, concluded Dr. Flikier.

If you are currently in Costa Rica or if you are planning a visit to this country, we recommend that you make sure to book a dentist appointment, take advantage of the convenient prices and excellent service provided by professionals in Costa Rica such as those  at the Flikier Dental Institute and take a step towards prevention and early diagnosis of oral cancer.