Do You Have Any Signs of Oral Cancer?

Cancer is a scary state to contemplate, but knowing what to look for can go a long way in calming your fears and helping you make a proactive plan.

Oral cancer occurs within the mouth at the gums, tongue, cheek linings, roof of the mouth, or the mouth’s floor – that area under the tongue. Medical professionals often group oral cancer with mouth cancer, which includes the lips, and head and neck cancers. As groups, the treatments are similar.

Emergent Signs of Oral Cancer

There are some things to watch for inside your mouth to detect oral cancers early. A sore that doesn’t heal or a white or reddish patch on the inside of your mouth, loose teeth, mouth or ear pain, and difficult or painful swallowing are all signs that you should monitor the symptom. Other, less obvious signs include bad breath, changes in your voice, swelling of the jaw, or lumps in or around the neck, jaw, or throat.

Investigating Problem Areas

If the symptom persists for two weeks or more, schedule an appointment to have the problem investigated more thoroughly. During an oral cancer screening, we will examine your symptoms and feel the tissues around the affected area. We may x-ray the site for a more in-depth look or move on to more targeted investigative tools.

Using a mouthwash with a unique cancer screening dye that turns cancerous tissue blue or light that makes the cancerous area turn white, we may have tools to delve deeper into the problem sections. We may choose to biopsy the tissue and have it tested or refer you to a doctor skilled in oral cancer detection to have it biopsied.

If you have a concern about a spot in your mouth, call us. Our skilled professionals will investigate your problem area and set a treatment program.