Caring for you AND your Smile!

During oral cancer awareness month, we’re sharing information and resources to help you identify signs that you may have an oral health concern.

A healthy mouth is more than just a nice smile. Our mouths help us eat, drink, talk and laugh. During oral cancer awareness month, we’re sharing information and resources to help you identify signs that you may have an oral health concern.

While oral cancer is most common in adults over the age of 50, an increasingly high number of young people are being diagnosed. Heavy smokers and drinkers are not the only people at risk for oral cancer. If not diagnosed and treated in its early stages, oral cancer can spread, leading to chronic pain, loss of function, facial and oral disfigurement or worse.

You can increase your chances of early detection and treatment by making regular visits to your dentist and discussing your risk factors.

Learn the Signs

Regular dental checkups are not the only way to help prevent oral cancer. In addition to bi-annual dental visits, anyone experiencing the following symptoms should go to the doctor right away:

• Mouth sores that last longer than two weeks,
• Swelling, growths or lumps anywhere in or near your mouth or neck,
• White or red patches in your mouth or on your lips,
• Repeated bleeding from the mouth or throat, or
• Difficulty swallowing or persistent hoarseness.

Dental Insurance Questions?

The Delta Dental plan is designed to help you maintain a healthy smile through regular preventive dental care and to address any dental problems as soon as they occur. Call 800.524.0149 or visit deltadentaloh.com to get answers to your dental coverage questions. Or visit steelperks.com to read more about all of Olympic Steel’s benefits.