When it comes to taking care of your teeth and gums, the last thing on your mind is going to be cancer. But mouth cancer can creep up at any time. Here are some early oral signs you should look out for and seek the attention of your dentist immediately.
- Halitosis
Halitosis is known as chronic bad breath, and can be caused by a number of conditions. However, a tumor in the mouth will use up blood supply and will become an ulcer that can get infected. This can cause a putrid smell to come out of the mouth. Seeking the attention of Bridgewater family dentists can help you to take care of this before it’s too late.
- Ear Pain
Ear pain can actually be caused by something going on somewhere else inside the head. Oral cancer can cause ear pain too, since the nerves without the mouth are also connected to other areas within the skull.
- Unintentional Weight Loss
Cancerous tumors can affect other areas of the body, which can result in significant weight loss. If you start noticing this happening, then you should contact your doctor immediately.
- Mouth Sores
A mouth sore is usually harmless and goes away on its own. However, sometimes it can be a sign of something more serious, especially if they don’t clear up in roughly a week. The texture of the sore can also tell you what’s going on: normally, they’re thin and soft, while cancerous tumor are thick and hard, and bleed quite often.
- Mouth Numbness
A tumor growing in your mouth can cause some nerve damage to occur, which can result in some numbness in an isolated part of your mouth. The numbness is usually preceded by pain for several months too.
- Lump In The Neck
If you are over the age of 40 and you notice a lump in your neck, then you should assume that it’s cancer until it’s proven to not be. There are very few reasons that there should be a lump in your neck that’s not related to cancer. This is because as oral cancer spreads, it can affect the lymph nodes that are just below your jawline.
- Tongue Pain
The tongue is actually quite sensitive, so when pain occurs, it can sometimes feel debilitating. So if you feel pain in your tongue, then it’s a sign that something serious is happening. It’s not something that you should wait on to see if it goes away on its own.
- Red Or White Blotches
These blotches can appear on your gums, tongue, or the roof of your mouth, and could be a sign that you have cancer. Seek medical attention immediately if they last more than 2 weeks.
- Loose Teeth
If there is no apparent dental reason that you’re teeth are loose, then it could be a sign that you have oral cancer.
- Tongue Or Jaw Stiffness
The tongue and jaw are pretty movable parts of your body, but if you struggle to move them around, then there could be a tumor developing in these areas that is hindering their movement.
Oral cancer isn’t a condition that should be taken lightly, as it can spread quite quickly and affect other areas of your health. Please seek the medical attention of your dentist as soon as possible if you notice any of these symptoms.