The inside of the mouth is normally lined with a special type of skin, called the mucosa is smooth and coral pink in color. Any alteration its appearance could be a warning sign for a pathological process. The most serious of these is oral cancer.
The following can be signed at the beginning of a pathologic process or cancerous growth:
- Reddish patches (erythroplakia) or whitish patches (leukoplakia) in the mouth.
- A sore that fails to heal and bleeds easily.
- A lump or thickening on the skin lining the inside of the mouth.
- Chronic sore throat or hoarseness.
- Difficulty in chewing or swallowing.
These changes can be detected on the lips, cheeks, palate, and gum tissue around the teeth, tongue, face and/or neck. Pain does not always occur with pathology, and curiously, is not often associated with oral cancer. However, any patient with facial and/or oral pain without an obvious cause or reason may also be at risk for oral cancer.
It is recommended to perform a monthly oral cancer self-examination. It is important to remember that the mouth is one of the body’s most important warning systems. Do not ignore suspicious lumps or sores. Please contact us so that we may help.