Identifying Signs of Mouth Cancer

How can one tell if they have oral cancer? It’s important to know the specific areas in which cancer can spread in the mouth as well as knowing the signs and symptoms. If any of the symptoms persist for more than two weeks it is important that you contact your doctor as soon as possible.

Here are some of the signs and symptoms to look for:

• Sores and/or lumps in areas around your mouth and/or throat
• A lump feeling in your throat
• Feeling numb or pain in an area inside the mouth
• Ear pain
• Difficulty moving your jaw or tongue
• Problems with chewing, speaking or swallowing
• Long last sore throat

Being able to self-evaluate yourself and know how to do it accurately is important. As long as you have a good mirror and enough light you should be able to see the inside of your mouth clearly. After you’ve identified the signs then you should contact your doctor for further evaluation.

You can also ask your dentist to do an oral cancer screening as they may have special equipment to check more accurately.

If you’re someone who smokes or chews tobacco and/or if you drink alcohol regularly then it’s important that you make sure that your dentist does an oral screening or x-ray to look for problems.

The important thing to remember is that if you do notice the above signs and symptoms they shouldn’t be disregarded. It’s important that you get checked out if you feel something is wrong. If you have further questions or concerns regarding identifying signs of mouth cancer then speak with your dentist or doctor.