Oral cancer isn’t restricted to the teeth or gums - it is also found in the cheeks, tongue, lips, hard palate, and throat. Here are some of the most common signs of oral cancer, which, if spotted, should be immediately brought to a doctor’s attention.

The color and texture of the human mouth can change over time, but white, red, or speckled patches are changes to be wary of. White patches are the most benign of the three, a only occasionally do these become malignant. Speckled patches are more prone to malignancy, followed by red patches - especially those which exhibit a smooth texture and are brightly colored.

This may seem odd at first glance, until you remember that the ear and throat (along with the nose) are all connected. When you have a cold or a flu, your entire head feels cruddy: sinus pressure, coughing, etc. Ear pain is a symptom of oral cancer due to the pressure exerted by cancer cells on the surrounding tissue. This pressure is manifested in a constant, throbbing pain that resembles an earache, but is more painful.

Regardless of where an oral cancer is concentrated, throat soreness is a common byproduct - specifically, a soreness accompanied by the feeling of a “lump in the throat”. Unlike the warning signs covered above, the fact that this level of throat soreness lacks a singular visual or pain component means that sufferers should visit their doctor if the sore throat lasts for more than a few days, or worsens.

When a patient at Circle Drive Dental in Rochester reports a feeling of numbness or pain to one of our local dentists, we immediately try and locate the source: it could be a cracked tooth, a cavity, or an overly sensitive gum line. If the source isn’t readily confirmable, this pain or numbness could be symptomatic of oral cancer. Cancer cells have the ability to interrupt or block ordinary nerve function, which leads to numbness in certain parts of the mouth. On the flipside, cancer cells can also excite nerve endings to a condition of hypersensitivity, which leads to pain and/or tenderness around the cancerous areas.

When cancerous cells invade the mouth, they can cause swelling and tightening of the ligaments and muscles of the cheeks, lips, and throat. The most common byproducts of this invasion are difficulties chewing, swallowing, and even speaking, depending on the extent and nature of the cancer.

Changes in speech can be a sign of oral cancer affecting the lips, soft palate, or tongue. Left untreated, the cancer could move into the throat and affect the vocal cords – in fact, a good percentage of oral cancer patients require part of their larynx to be removed in order to halt the cancer. Vocal changes can also be brought on by sickness or injury, but any changes not associated with these influences should be discussed with a doctor.

At Circle Drive Dental, we take great pride in helping our patients maintain clean, healthy mouths. Whenever we encounter one or more of the warning signs discussed herein, we encourage the patient to contact their doctor and arrange an oral cancer screening. When it comes to cancer, you can never be too safe.