In honor of National Oral Cancer Awareness Month, Delta Dental of Washington is sponsoring a free oral cancer screening event facilitated by The Floss Boss Mobile and with volunteer help from students at the UW School of Dentistry.
- Where: Red Square, University of Washington – Seattle
- When: Monday, April 14 | 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
The event is open to anyone – you do not have to be a UW student or faculty to receive a free oral cancer screening.
The event will be run by the Floss Boss Mobile team – a community-driven mobile dental clinic founded by Dr. Lina Kim. With a team of multilingual providers and a quick, 10-minute exam, the goal is to make screenings easy, accessible, and impactful.
Oral cancer often goes undetected until it’s too late – which is why early detection is so important. While it’s more common in older adults, it’s increasingly affecting people under 40, often due to HPV exposure. Regular screenings can make all the difference.
“After losing my husband, I felt compelled to seek out organizations which raise awareness about head and neck cancers and early screenings,” said Sue Lim. “Spreading awareness about this lesser-known cancer type means hopefully being able to diagnose them faster and earlier.”
During the screening, dental professionals will check for early warning signs like mouth sores, white patches, lumps, or other unusual symptoms.
Know the signs of oral cancer:
- Persistent sore throat
- Unhealing mouth sores or bleeding
- Lumps or patches inside the mouth
- Difficulty chewing or swallowing
- Jaw or tongue stiffness
- Ear pain
While the odds of developing oral cancer remain low, the rates are rising – especially in Washington state. That’s why Delta Dental of Washington, Floss Boss Mobile, and UW School of Dentistry are teaming up to bring these vital screenings right to the community.
To learn more about oral cancer and how to protect your health, visit the Delta Dental of Washington blog.
