The inside of the mouth is normally lined with a special type of skin (mucosa) that is smooth and pink in colour. Any alteration in this appearance could be a warning sign for a pathological process (some of which are concerning). The most serious of these is oral cancer.

The following can be signs of a developing oral cancer:

• An ulceration or sore that fails to heal or bleeds easily

• Chronic difficulty swallowing or throat hoarseness

• Red patches (erythroplakia) or white patches (leukoplakia) in the mouth that do not improve

• Lumps that appear on the neck (lymphadenopathy).

These changes can be detected on the lips, cheeks and gum tissue around teeth, tongue and face/neck. Pain does not always occur with oral cancers however any patient with facial/oral pain without an obvious cause may be at risk.

We recommend performing an oral cancer self-examination monthly between your regularly scheduled dental checkups. Do not ignore suspicious lumps or sores. Contact your dentist or the surgeons at Maxillo Winnipeg so we may help.