It is something that many people do not want to think about. Known as ‘the big C’, cancer can and does occur commonly in the mouth, and due to lifestyles such as smoking, drinking alcohol and consumption of certain foods, it is an unfortunate fact that oral cancer is on the rise in countries like the UK and America.

And it is also a key reason why you should always aim to attend your biannual checkups, as your dental team will include an oral cancer screening as part of a general assessment.

At Amsel & Wilkins, our dentist in Banbury will always aim to provide you with a thorough dental assessment, ensuring that any abnormal growths or patches of skin are explored and that you leave our clinic with a clean bill of health or an appropriate treatment plan.

But what are some of the signs of oral cancer that you can detect at home? Here, our dentist in Banbury provides a brief list of things to look out for.

Sores on the lips or mouth

It is worth noting that oral cancer can initially present on the lips, tongue, gums or tonsils. So when you are brushing or flossing your teeth, it is worth assessing all of these areas if possible. If you have sores on your lips or in your mouth that are not healing, you should aim to book an appointment with our dentist in Banbury as soon as possible, as this can be a tell-tale sign of oral cancer.

You should also have any cold sores that recur in the same part of the mouth examined by our dental team.

Lumps or bumps inside the mouth

When most people hear the word cancer, they think of a lump or bump. While most lumps and bumps inside the mouth can be benign, if you spot one on your inner lip, your gums, your tongue or the roof of your mouth, you should book an urgent dental appointment with our team.

If we have concerns, as mentioned earlier, we will refer you to a specialist who can perform a biopsy.

Ear pain

When you were younger, you may recall being told that if you had an earache, it may be due to an issue in your mouth or with one of your teeth. Unfortunately, recurring ear pain with no obvious cause can point to oral cancer. This is usually because a growth may be putting pressure on the nerves that are shared by your mouth and ears.

Once again, if you do suffer from ear pain with no obvious cause, you should see our team.

Loose teeth

Statistically speaking, loose teeth in adulthood are more likely to be caused by reversible disorders like gum disease. However, if you do not have gum disease and your teeth are wobbling, this can indicate that there is another issue in your mouth that is destroying the tendons and gum tissue.

White or red patches

Much like the recurring ulcers or sores, if you have patches in your mouth that physically feel different when you run your tongue across them and appear red or white, then you will need to see our team. These symptoms can be the early stages of a cancerous lesion.