SIX STEPS TO AN ORAL CANCER EXAM Free Help Quitting Your dental or medical provider will: Tobacco Use Oral 1. Ask you to remove your dentures if you wear them. The Maryland Tobacco Quit Cancer 2. Check and feel your face, neck, ears Line is a free service provided and lip to look for any lumps. Feel by DHMH to help people quit under your chin and on both sides of using tobacco products. Call your neck. 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784- 8669) for free telephone-based 3. Look and feel the inside of your lips counseling, support and tips to and cheeks for red or white spots. help you quit for good or visit www.smokingstopshere.com. 4. Ask you to stick out your tongue and look for red or white spots on your tongue with a piece of gauze to see the sides and under your tongue. OFFICE OF ORAL HEALTH Prevention and Health Promotion 5. Check the roof of your mouth, the Administration back of your throat and the floor of Maryland Department of Health and your mouth. Mental Hygiene Early Detection

6. Put a finger under your tongue and Saves Lives the other finger under your chin and press down to check for lumps.

201 W. Preston Street, 4th Fl. Baltimore, MD 21201 410-767-5300 http://phpa.dhmh.maryland.gov/oralhealth Some Important Tips about KNOW THE RISKS email: [email protected] The services and facilities of the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Oral Cancer from your Hygiene (DHMH) are operated on a non-discriminatory basis. This policy prohibits discriminiation on the basis of race, color, sex, or national origin and applies PREVENT ORAL CANCER to the provisions of employment and granting of advantages, privileges, and Maryland Department of accommodations.

The Department, in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, ensures that Health and Mental Hygiene qualified individuals with disabilities are given an opportunity to participate in and benefit from DHMH services, benefits and employment opportunities. 02/2015 About Oral Signs and Prevention Cancer Symptoms

There is a better chance for a cure if Oral Cancer is a type of cancer that It is important to consult with a dental oral cancer is found early. occurs anywhere in the mouth and on or medical provider if any of these the lips. conditions last more than two weeks. ◊ Have an oral exam once a year. Ask your dental or medical Approximately 40,000 new cases of provider for an oral cancer exam oral cancer are expected in the United ◊ A sore on your lip or in your mouth during your visit. States each year. that does not heal. This is the most common symptom. ◊ Avoid tobacco products: In Maryland, an average of 670 cigarettes, chew or snuff, pipes new cases are expected each year. ◊ Patches inside or cigars. 90% of patients with your mouth or oral cancer use tobacco. on your lips ◊ Limit alcohol consumption. 80% The risk factors of oral cancer include: that are white, a mixture of of patients with oral cancer ◊ Age Most oral cancers oocur red and white, frequently consume alcohol. or red after age 40. ◊ Use lip balm with a SPF of at least 15. 30% of patients with oral ◊ Gender Oral cancer is twice as ◊ A sore throat or feeling that cancer have outdoor occupations something is caught in the throat common in men as women. associated with prolonged sun exposure. ◊ Tobacco use ◊ Numbness on the tongue or other areas of the mouth ◊ Eat a variety of fruits and ◊ Alcohol use vegatables. Eating at least five ◊ Difficulty moving the jaw or tongue servings every day may provide ◊ Diet some protection against oral cancer. ◊ Difficulty wearing dentures ◊ Prolonged sun exposure ◊ Be aware of sexual behaviors ◊ Human Papillomavirus (HPV) ◊ Difficulty swallowing or chewing leading to Human Papillomavirus (HPV) exposure. Talk to your medical provider about how ◊ Loosening of the teeth or pain around the teeth or jaw the HPV vaccine might prevent oropharyngeal cancer.

Most Oral Cancer is Preventable. Early Detection is Important!