A guide to oral cancer symptoms from our dentist
There are few things more unnerving than performing your daily oral hygiene routine and then finding a lump or bump in your mouth. And while in most cases lumps in the mouth are benign, they can be something that you will want to have checked out by a dental professional.
Oral cancer is when a tumour develops in a part of the mouth and it can be present on the tongue, the inside of the cheeks, pallet or the roof of the mouth, the gums or even the inner lip.
So, if you find a lump or growth in any of these areas, you will need to contact our team as soon as possible.
At the practice of Dr Bobby Chhoker, we take general oral health very seriously and as part of your biannual check-up, our dental team in Bondi Junction will aim to ensure that all areas of your mouth and your gums are healthy. We also offer oral screening for mouth cancer.
But what are some of the symptoms which you can spot at home that could point to oral cancer? Our dental practice highlights 5 key symptoms to keep an eye out for.
Mouth ulcers
Most people have had mouth ulcers at one time or another, usually when they are ill or if they have been under excessive stress. However, if you have recurrent mouth ulcers in the same part of your mouth and they are causing discomfort, or have grown larger than a 1-cent coin, then you urgently need to see our team, and our team will need to assess whether or not you require further intervention.
Lumps and bumps
As mentioned earlier in this article, one of the leading symptoms of oral cancer is the presence of a lump or bump in your mouth, on your gums or on your inner lip. In our experience, the majority of lumps in the mouth are benign. But if your lump is growing substantially, or if it is causing you concern, then please contact our team as soon as possible for a check-up.
Slow healing
Suppose you have had a tooth removed recently, or you have accidentally bitten your inner cheek or your tongue. If there is a delay in the healing of these oral injuries, this can point to oral cancer. It can also point to secondary complications, such as diabetes, but the only way to know for sure is to attend our surgery for a check-up.
Loose teeth
Having loose teeth does not instantly point to oral cancer and, in the majority of cases, it may be something along the lines of having untreated gum disease, or maybe the result of a trauma. But if you are certain that you do not have gum disease and have not suffered a blow to the mouth, then it is worth seeing our team to assess the cause of having a loose tooth or teeth.
Texture changes
You know how the inside of your mouth feels along your gum lines and your inner cheeks. If there is a change, such as a patch of your mouth feeling rough or different than it did previously, then this can be an indicator that there is an issue, which will need to be explored by our team.
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All treatments carry risks. Individual consultation is required with one of our practitioners to ensure that the treatment is right for you.