What are the symptoms and causes of oral cancer?
Unfortunately, because oral cancer is painless, it’s easy for you to overlook symptoms like changes in gum tissue, even when they’re visible. By the time your dentist sees it, the cancer may have spread. I advise my patients to look for changes in color and texture or a lump or thickening in the mouth, neck or face. If you notice changes in color that don’t heal after 10 days or if you have a lesion or mouth sore that does not go away within two weeks, ask your dentist to take a look. Your dentist may perform a biopsy to check the lesion. If you smoke or drink alcohol daily, you increase the chances that lesions might be precancerous. Fortunately, quitting tobacco and alcohol significantly lowers your risk of developing these cancers, even after many years of abuse. Keep in mind however, although tobacco and alcohol are risk factors in developing oral cancer, approximately 25% of oral cancer patients have no known risk factors. Studies suggest that a diet high in fruits and vegetables
