Unsure how to check for oral cancer at home? 5 things to look for from our dentist at Byfleet Dental
Nothing is more ominous than a strange lump in your mouth.
And while it is usually nothing to worry about, if you notice a lump or bump in your mouth, you should get it examined by a member of our dental team as soon as possible.
We know that nobody likes to consider the ‘big c’ as it were, but when it comes to oral cancer, it is one of the easiest cancers to treat if it is detected early. And as oral cancer rates are growing across the world, in part due to smoking and in part due to better screening, making an appointment to see our team could be the difference between a simple treatment or a more drawn out one.
At Byfleet Dental, we take oral cancer very seriously and will always encourage any patient to visit us immediately if they are worried about a lump, bump or odd feeling patch in their mouth. As part of our regular dental check-ups, we offer all patients oral cancer screening and will always refer you to a specialist if we have concerns.
But what are some of the signs to keep an eye out for in relation to oral cancer? Our dentist in West Byfleet recommends checking for the following 5 at least once a week as part of your oral hygiene regime.
Cold sores that won’t heal
Usually caused by stress, cold sores can be a nuisance.
But if you suffer from cold sores that don’t heal or come back regularly (once a month), then you need to see our dentist in West Byfleet. Of course, it may be that you are under a great deal of stress or have underlying medical issues that aren’t cancerous, but it is best to be safe in these issues, so contact us if you have any worries.
Recurrent mouth ulcers
Like the cold sores, if you have mouth ulcers that no amount of mouthwash seems to get rid of, you need to see our team.
If the mouth ulcers grow to the size of a 5 pence piece or larger, you may want to go straight to your nearest hospital.
Ear pain
The mouth and ears are connected via a set of nerve endings, so if you suffer from frequent ear pain, it may be worth coming to us for oral cancer screening.
Ear pain could also point to an impacted wisdom tooth or infection, so it’s best to be preventive with any of these issues to avoid discomfort and secondary complications.
Difficulty swallowing
Oral cancers can start at the back of the mouth, so if you notice that it is harder to swallow food, it could be a sign of oral cancer. Contact our team promptly if it is gradually becoming tougher to swallow food too.
White or red patches
Any white or red flat patches in your mouth require examination and are one of the earliest signs of cancerous cells. If you spot them, call our team immediately!