Know Your Mouth: Oral Cancer Signs, Symptoms, and Prevention

Oral cancer is a serious disease, which is why Bay Premier Dentistry aims to spot signs as early as possible and give patients a fighting chance by providing oral cancer screenings.

Symptoms of Oral Cancer

The dental professionals at Bay Premier Dentistry look for early warning signs of oral cancer to increase your chance of fighting and beating the disease. Some of these signs can be mistaken, masquerading as less serious issues such as a toothache or the common cold. If symptoms persist, you should seek help from a medical professional that can take a closer look at you and see what’s going on. Some of the signs they may look for that indicate oral cancer include:

– Persistent sores in the mouth that do not heal

– Consistent pain in the mouth

– Lumps or thickening of the cheeks

– Patches of white or red along the tongue, gums, throat, or tonsils

– Frequent sore throat

– Problems swallowing, moving the tongue or jaw, or chewing

– Experiencing numbness in the mouth

– Swelling of the jawbone

– Changes in your voice

– Weight loss

– Bad breath

– Teeth becoming loose

If you experience any of these symptoms and they last for more than two weeks, speak with your doctor or visit your dentist for an oral cancer screening. During the screening, your doctor will look for abnormalities and perform tests to make an accurate diagnosis and rule out other causes of your symptoms.

Treating Oral Cancer

There are several methods used to treat oral cancer. In some cases, surgery may be recommended to remove a tumor before it causes further damage. Lymph nodes and other affected tissues may also need to be removed. Radiation therapy and chemotherapy may also be performed if they are deemed beneficial to the treatment of oral cancer. Treatment methods, however, depend on the severity of the disease along with other factors.

If you’re interested in learning more about oral cancer and how it can affect your health, call our office to schedule an appointment at Bay Premier Dentistry.