It’s no surprise that dental problems can emerge from a variety of places: the wrong foods, genetics, a chipped tooth from a football game that results in a root canal in the future. One of the most important things we can do as practitioners is to help patients engage with and deeply understand their own health, including why these problems emerge and what we can to do treat them. It’s for this effort that we examine the nine most common dental problems that we see on a regular basis.
Problem Two: Oral Cancer
The inside of your mouth is normally lined with a special type of skin, called mucosa, which is smooth and pink. Any change in its appearance could be a warning sign for disease, the most serious being oral cancer.
Warning signs for oral cancer may include:
– Reddish or whitish patches in the mouth
– A sore that doesn’t heal and bleeds easily
– A lump or thickening of the skin lining the inside of the mouth
– Chronic sore throat or hoarseness
– Difficulty in chewing or swallowing
These skin changes can be detected on your lips, cheeks, face, neck or palate; they can also happen in gum tissue around your teeth or tongue. Pain does not always occur and is not often associated with oral cancer. However, any patient with facial or oral pain without an obvious cause or reason may also be at risk for oral cancer.
We recommend performing an oral cancer self-examination monthly, which we can teach you how to do. If you have suspicious lumps or sores, contact our team so we can help right away.
If you have any questions about oral cancer or if you would like to schedule a free consultation, please contact our team or make an appointment. Our incredible staff will give you the best dental care possible.