The signs and symptoms of oral cancer
Oral cancer begins with abnormal cell growth in the mouth, lips, tongue, or throat. When caught early, oral cancers have a high success rate with treatment. People over age 45 are at greatest risk, but anyone should consider oral cancer screening if they notice any of these symptoms:
- Discoloured patches in the mouth or on the lips, including white or dark red areas
- Unfamiliar lumps or unusual textures
- Canker sores that will not heal, numb patches, or persistent bleeding
- Unusual tongue sensations, changes in taste, or difficulty swallowing
The risk factors for oral cancer
Certain habits and conditions increase the risk of oral cancer. These include:
- Smoking or using tobacco products like cigarettes, cigars, or chewing tobacco
- Drinking alcohol heavily or moderately, especially when combined with tobacco use
- Possible infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) in the mouth
- Excessive exposure to sunlight, especially without protection
- Poor diet or eating habits
- Family history of oral cancer
- Oral cancer is more common in men than in women
- History of leukoplakia, which is a thick, white patch inside the mouth
Prevention, detection, and treatment of oral cancer
Treatment depends on the severity, type, and location of the cancer and is planned on a case by case basis.
For expert oral cancer screenings and peace of mind, trust a caring Burlington Dentist to keep your mouth healthy and safe.
Spotting early signs of cancer
The goal of oral cancer screening is to find cancer or precancerous conditions early. During your exam, your dentist will carefully inspect the inside of your mouth and under your tongue for red or white patches or suspicious sores. The dentist will also feel the tissues inside your mouth for lumps or unusual textures and may check the outside of your throat and neck for lumps.
Diagnosis and treatment
If cancer signs are found during screening, further testing such as a biopsy may be required. This involves removing a small piece of tissue for laboratory analysis. Imaging tests like X rays, ultrasounds, CT scans, or MRIs may also be needed. Treatment to remove tumours may include surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy.
Prevention of oral cancer
You can reduce your risk by seeing your dentist regularly, avoiding tobacco products, drinking responsibly, protecting your lips from the sun with UV blocking balms, eating a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables, and regularly checking your mouth for any unusual changes to report.
Prevention, detection and treatment of oral cancer
Treatment will be planned on a case by case basis and will heavily depend on the severity, type and location of the suspected cancer.Spotting early signs of cancer
The goal of an oral cancer screening is the early detection of cancer or precancerous conditions in your mouth. During the exam, your dentist will look over the inside of your mouth and under your tongue for red or white patches or suspicious sores. Your dentist will also feel the tissues in your mouth to check for lumps or odd textures and may also feel the outside of your throat and neck for lumps.
Diagnosis and treatment
If signs of cancer are detected during your oral screening you may be asked to undergo additional testing such as a biopsy (where a small piece of the suspicious tissue is removed for lab examination) or imaging tests like Xrays, ultrasounds, CT scans or an MRI. To remove confirmed tumours, surgery or chemotherapy or radiation therapy may be necessary.
Prevention of oral cancer
You can take steps now to help prevent oral cancer later. To help reduce your risk of oral cancer see your dentist regularly for routine exams, stop using tobacco products and drink responsibly, be mindful of your exposure to direct sunlight and use U/V protective lip balms, eat a healthy diet with plenty of fruits and veggies and during your routine brushing and flossing rituals, remember to check your mouth for signs or symptoms so that you can report any concerns to your dentist.
Contact us today
to schedule an initial consultation & exam.
Your consultation will include an examination of everything from your teeth, gums and soft tissues to the shape and condition of your bite. Generally, we want to see how your whole mouth looks and functions. Before we plan your treatment we want to know everything about the health and aesthetic of your smile, and, most importantly, what you want to achieve so we can help you get there.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have risk factors or notice unusual patches, lumps, or sores in your mouth, it is wise to ask for oral cancer screening at your regular dental visit.
Your dentist will examine your lips, cheeks, gums, and all sides of your tongue. They will also feel around your face, jaw, throat, and neck for any lumps or tenderness.
Wash your hands. In front of a mirror, examine your lips, roof of your mouth, tongue, gums, and cheeks. Pull your lips up and down to check behind them. Use gauze or a cotton pad to hold your tongue and inspect the sides and underside. Feel the inside of your mouth for lumps, bumps, unusual textures, or tenderness. Report any sores that do not heal within two weeks to your dentist.
Small, usually painless, flat patches that may be red, white, gray, or yellow with red edges. These patches can appear on the lips, gums, cheeks, tongue, or roof of the mouth. Any unusual changes should be checked by a healthcare professional.
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