KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - February is National Dental Health Month. To help you have a healthy smile, dentists with UT Medical Center will set up shop in the hospital lobby this week.

Besides a chance to raise awareness, the event will offer free oral cancer screenings which dentists say gives you a greater chance of detection.

More than 34,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral cancer this year. The American Dental Association says of those, almost 8,000 will die.

Dr. Lee Wilson with UT Medical Center says although oral cancer isn't extremely common, it can be severe.

"Because oral cancers are terribly disfiguring, that would take part of your tongue or part of a jaw."

Dr. Wilson says it can affect any area of your mouth including the lips, gum tissue, check lining, tongue and the hard or soft palate. Which is why check-ups are so important.

"You're looking for things that may be nodules or areas that may be red or white on the side of your tongue."

But there are other habits you should try to break.

"Alcohol and tobacco use is one of the things that you can try to limit in your daily life."

Early detection means early treatment. So UT Medical Center will hold free oral cancer screenings to help you stay healthy.

"You check inside the mouth, the sides of the tongue and the floor of the mouth are the most common areas for somebody to get something bad in their mouth."

Doctors will also help you understand the importance of everyday "home care" practices like brushing and flossing.

"We want everyone to know that their overall oral health is very important to their overall health in general."

The event will be held in the UT Medical Center lobby February 10th and 11th from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. The event is free and open to the public. For more information about oral cancer, click on the link below.