Your Next Dental Appointment May Save Your Life

Alberta Oral Health Professionals Urge Patients to Know the Signs of Oral Cancer

EDMONTON, Alberta, March 31, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- When you sit down for a routine dental visit, your oral health professional is doing more than checking your teeth. They are also examining the soft tissues of your mouth—your tongue, cheeks, throat, and lips—as well as areas around your mouth and neck for anything that doesn’t look right. It is a quick, painless step that can help detect oral cancer early, when treatment is most effective.

April is Oral Health Month, and this year Alberta’s oral health community is coming together through the Alberta Dental Association’s A Mouth Says A Lot campaign to highlight the broader role dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, and denturists play in protecting overall health.

A recent survey commissioned by the Alberta Dental Association reveals that while 88% of Albertans recognize the connection between oral health and general health, less than half are aware that an oral cancer screening is already part of their routine dental exam.

“When people know that their dentists are screening them for cancer, it not only reassures them but also makes them more likely to come back when they notice a warning sign,” says Dr. Carol Martin, President of the Alberta Dental Association. “Your mouth says a lot about your health, and it is important to listen to it: early detection can greatly improve your chance of surviving oral cancer.”

"Early detection saves lives and it often starts in the dental chair,” says Melanie Johnston-Dore President of the Dental Hygienist’s Association of Alberta. “Oral health professionals are key to recognizing early signs and supporting patients to seek care.”

“Every day, dental assistants contribute to patient care, education, and early detection, helping ensure patients receive thorough examinations that can detect concerns like oral cancer early,” says Samantha Popp, RDA, Chairman of the Alberta Association of Dental Assistants. “Together with the oral health team, we are working to keep Alberta communities healthy and informed.”

"Oral cancer can develop silently, even in the absence of teeth," says Ashley Adams, President of the Denturist Association of Alberta. "Every denture visit is an opportunity for a soft tissue screening — and for denturists, that examination is always part of the care we provide. Early detection saves lives. We encourage all patients to keep their regular appointments and report any changes that concern them."

Recognize the signs
Oral cancer can look different from person to person, and sometimes there are no visible signs at all. Common signs and symptoms can include:

• A sore or irritation in the mouth that does not heal within two weeks
• Red or white patches on the gums, tongue, or lining of the mouth
• A lump in the neck or throat
• Difficulty chewing, swallowing, or opening the jaw
• A sore throat, ear pain, or persistent bad breath that does not go away

If you notice any of these changes, don’t wait. Book an appointment with your dentist, dental hygienist, or denturist. Several factors can increase your risk, including tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and HPV infection. Talk to your oral health team about your personal risk factors.

A survivor who knows firsthand
Jennifer Cicci spent her career as a dental hygienist screening patients for exactly the kind of changes she was trained to recognize. In 2013, she found a painless lump on her own neck and knew from her clinical training that something was wrong. After a persistent push to get the right diagnosis, she was confirmed to have squamous cell carcinoma. She is now nearly 12 years cancer-free and has become a patient advocate dedicated to encouraging earlier detection.

"We have to be diligent with our screenings, educate our patients about what to look for, and let them know when a visit to an oral health professional is warranted," says Cicci. "Together we have the power to save lives."

A Mouth Says A Lot
A Mouth Says A Lot is an oral cancer awareness campaign that launches in April 2026 in recognition of Oral Health Month. The campaign is focusing on education and resources for oral health teams, and stories like Jennifer's to encourage earlier detection and better patient-provider conversations. It is supported by the Alberta Dental Association, the Dental Hygienists Association of Alberta, the Alberta Association of Dental Assistants, the Denturist Association of Alberta, and Merck Canada.

More information and resources are available at albertadentalassociation.ca/amouthsaysalot

People across Alberta are encouraged to book a dental visit and ask about oral cancer screening. Need a dentist? Find one near you on our website albertadentalassociation.ca/find-a-dentist

Experts available for interview
Media are invited to connect with practising dentists, oral health researchers, and Jennifer Cicci, a dental hygienist and oral cancer survivor turned patient advocate. To arrange an interview, contact Lucas Warren:

Media Contact
Lucas Warren
Public Relations & Communications Director
Alberta Dental Association
lwarren@albertadentalassociation.ca
780-932-0534

About the Alberta Dental Association
The Alberta Dental Association is the collective voice of dentists in Alberta. The Association strengthens and supports the dental profession and promotes oral health as an integral part of general health for all Albertans.

Backgrounder: Public survey highlights gaps in oral cancer awareness

According to the Canadian Cancer Society, 5,800 men and 2,300 women will be diagnosed with head and neck cancer across the country. In Alberta, it is estimated that the average annual new cases from these cancers will increase 76.1% from 2003-07 to 2028-32.

To better understand the awareness and perceptions of oral health by Albertans, the Alberta Dental Association (ADA) recently conducted a public survey.

While oral health is widely recognized as an important part of overall well-being, people are less aware of specific health risks, particularly those related to oral cancer.

Additional findings include:

• 88% of Albertans understand that oral health is closely linked to overall health.
• 79% of Albertans expect their dentist to screen for oral cancer as part of routine care.
• Significantly fewer Albertans (38%) are aware that human papillomavirus (HPV) is a leading risk factor for oral and oropharyngeal cancers.
• These gaps point to a need for greater public education about risk factors for oral cancer, and more open dialogue between patients and oral health professionals to support earlier detection.

In response, the Alberta Dental Association is using Oral Health Month this April to raise awareness, encourage conversations about oral cancer screening, and support both patients and dental teams in prevention and early detection efforts.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at 

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f161167d-334c-412a-9e02-953fc9079cfc

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