How to identify early signs of mouth cancer
Learn how to spot early signs of mouth cancer, including white patches, sores, and throat pain, for early detection.
Cancer is a disease that occurs when cells in the body grow uncontrollably. This can happen anywhere in the body, including the mouth — in which case it’s called oral cancer, or mouth cancer. Oral cancer can happen at any age, regardless of substance use. Knowing the signs and symptoms can help you get treatment early, dramatically increasing survival rates.
This article explains mouth cancer in detail, helping you learn how to spot early warning signs and offering tips to reduce your risk of getting it. If you notice any suspicious signs or symptoms, schedule an appointment as soon as possible to get evaluated.
What is mouth cancer?
Oral cancer is any form of cancer that develops within the mouth and/or throat. This cancer starts like any form of cancer, when cells in one of the mouth’s structures grow abnormally. Left untreated, it can metastasize, or spread beyond the mouth to other areas of the body. Metastasis makes the cancer more dangerous and complex to treat. This is why regular checkups for early detection are so crucial.
Where can mouth cancer start?
Mouth cancer can occur in almost any structure within the mouth including:
Lips: Lips can develop cancer through excessive sun exposure in addition to other factors.
Gums: Consistent bleeding and suspicious growth on the gums could indicate cancer.
Cheek lining: Areas of the inner cheek that thicken or develop into red patches may indicate cancerous growth.
Floor of mouth: Red or white lesions on this area may indicate oral cancer.
Back of the throat: Cancerous growth may occur on the tongue’s base or the tonsils. If it occurs on the throat itself, that is technically throat cancer, a different form of cancer.
Tongue: Cancer may appear under or on the tongue’s sides.
How to recognize the signs of mouth cancer
Many signs and symptoms that appear in later stages of mouth cancer include:
Chronic bad breath: Cancer can cause infections or ulcers, leading to chronic bad breath.
Throat soreness: Cancer can irritate the throat, leading to soreness and pain.
Ear pain: Certain ear nerves are close to the mouth. Cancerous growth can compress these nerves, causing earaches and pains.
Consistent, unexplained bleeding: Tissue damage from a growing tumor can cause consistent bleeding.
Numbness: Tumors pressing on nerves in the area can cause numbness, too, not just pain.
Red and white patches: The uncontrollable and rapid growth of cancerous cells can cause thick red or white patches to develop in the mouth.
Difficulty swallowing, speaking, or chewing: Cancerous growths can thicken areas of the mouth involved in these processes, making them more difficult.
When to see your dentist
If you notice any of the symptoms discussed, schedule an appointment with a doctor or dentist immediately. The earlier cancer is identified, the easier and more affordable treatment and recovery from treatment can become. As cancer progresses and spreads, the survival rate drops significantly.¹ Contact your Aspen Dental care team or schedule a check-up to get evaluated.
¹Source: Medical News Today. (2023). Oral cancer survival rate by age.
How to diagnose mouth cancer in the early stages
Dentists collect a lot of information to help determine if cancer is present and, if so, what form of cancer. First, they’ll get your personal and family medical history to see if you are genetically predisposed to any forms of cancer. From there, they may perform different tests to screen for cancer, depending on the symptoms:
Imaging techniques: Dentists use X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs to see structures in the body and spot potential cancerous growth.
Biopsies: This involves removing a small portion of tissue from a potentially cancerous area for analysis.
At Aspen Dental, our comprehensive oral cancer screening services use advanced fluorescence visualization technology. This non-invasive screening tool uses specialized light that causes cells within your mouth to light up in a particular way. Cancerous cells light up differently from regular cells, helping us spot and help diagnose cancer early so we can take action immediately. Find an Aspen Dental near you to schedule an appointment with a doctor and learn more.
Prevention of mouth cancer
There is no clear way to prevent mouth cancer entirely. However, there are several ways to reduce your risk of it:
Avoid tobacco and alcohol: All forms of tobacco and heavy alcohol use can also increase your risk of oral cancer by damaging cells within your mouth.
Maintain excellent oral hygiene: A great oral hygiene routine can remove bacteria, plaque, and debris to reduce your risk of oral health issues that could indirectly raise your risk of oral cancer.
Visit your dentist regularly: Dentists can clean hard-to-reach areas and identify early signs of cancer, helping to diagnose and take action immediately.
Visit your doctor regularly: Get an annual physical from your doctor as well. Part of the physical involves examining your mouth for signs of disease, such as cancer.
Eat a balanced, healthy diet: A balanced diet supplies your body with vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients to bolster your immune system, reduce inflammation, and positively impact other aspects of health that can reduce cancer risks.
Early stages of mouth cancer FAQs
What do early stages of mouth cancer look like?
Early stage oral cancer can appear as red or white lesions, thickened patches of tissue, sores, or lumps on structures in the mouth.
Does oral cancer spread fast?
Some cancers, like squamous cell carcinoma, can spread quickly.² It may spread to other areas of the mouth but can soon move to other parts of the body. This makes early detection crucial, so visit a doctor or dentist as soon as possible if you notice any signs or symptoms.
²Source: MedlinePlus. (n.d.). *Oral cancer*. U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Does mouth cancer hurt in the early stages?
It can cause pain, such as if it presses on nerves, irritates the throat, or causes sores in the mouth. However, it doesn’t always cause pain. Pain can become more pronounced as the disease progresses. If you’re experiencing any symptoms, it’s important to get evaluated as soon as possible.