The inside of the mouth is normally lined with a special type of skin (mucosa) that is smooth and pink in color. Any alteration in this appearance could be a warning sign for a pathological process. The most serious of these is oral cancer. The following can be signs at the beginning of a pathologic process or cancerous growth:
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.
We recommend performing an oral cancer self-examination monthly and remember that your mouth is one of your body's most important warning systems. Do not ignore suspicious lumps or sores. Please contact us so we may help.
Certain conditions and substances can cause oral cancers or tumors, thus may predispose you to these problems. Tobacco and alcohol can induce cancerous changes, and are thus carcinogens to the mouth. Smoking and chewing tobacco are the most common culprits, and in the presence of alcohol, especially in the concentrated forms, are especially dangerous.
Most lumps and bumps that form in the mouth are in fact not cancerous, and only a small percentage are. Unfortunately, some of these harmless lumps and bump can transform into cancers, especially if tobacco and/or alcohol use occurs. The only way to be truly safe is to have the bump evaluated and removed if needed.