Signs of oral cancer you should not ignore

Nobody wants to consider that they may get cancer. And with very few people who are eager to attend dental check-ups, it can come as a bit of a double-whammy to discover that oral cancer rates are increasing. Especially amongst men.

Why is this? An increase in smoking and drinking are likely to blame. As well as fewer people having access to (or attending) check-ups. This could be due in part to the COVID pandemic restricting people from being able to attend their check-ups.

Luckily, there are some easy ways you can spot oral cancer in your own home.

At Family Dental Care, our dentist in Doncaster East is big on prevention. Hence why we are always eager for people to attend their check-ups, so we can look for cavities, and gum disease and of course can offer oral cancer screening.

So, what are some of the signs of oral cancer that you can keep an eye out for at home? Read on to find out!

Ulcers

Most people have had ulcers in their mouths. And our dentist in Doncaster East is not overly worried about patients who present with them usually.

But if you have an ulcer that bleeds, is larger than normal, or is growing in the same part of your mouth time and time again, then we will need to be mindful, as this can be an early indicator of oral cancer.

If you notice a recurring ulcer or one that bleeds when touched, please call our dentist in Doncaster East for an appointment to get it checked out.

Persistent ear pain

Do you remember having an earache when you were young? That was later revealed to be linked to your teeth?

This is because the nerves are connected. And so, if you have a persistent earache, this can point to an underlying issue with your teeth. In most cases, it is a cavity or impacted tooth. But if you can’t identify the cause of the earache, you need to see us for an oral cancer screening.

Lumps or bumps

Fewer things are as scary as finding an unidentified lump in your mouth.

As you may have gathered from the other points in this article, in most cases, it is usually benign. Or, it may be linked to a health issue like an allergy or inflammation. But if you notice a lump anywhere in your mouth, you will need to see our team to have this explored.

Discomfort

Most people will know what a toothache feels like. And will know when to seek out help from our team to resolve it (it’s as soon as possible, by the way!).

But if you have general pain in your mouth, this can be an indication that there may be something more untoward going on. And you should seek an appointment with our team to determine the cause.

Weight loss

Unexplained weight loss is never a good thing. And commonly, it is linked to periods of stress or grief in someone’s life.

But it can also be a sign of cancer. As the body is using up fat reserves to attempt to fight off a tumour. If you have lost weight recently, you need to seek the advice of our team and other medical professionals to determine the cause and undertake testing.

DISCLAIMER

All treatments carry risks. Individual consultation is required with one of our practitioners to ensure that the treatment is right for you.