What Are the Symptoms of Oral Cancer?

You can check your mouth for early signs of oral cancer. All you need to do is open your mouth and look into a mirror.¹ Check your lips, gums, tongue, and all the hard and soft parts of your mouth and throat.² Here’s what to look for:

• Tiny white or red spots

• Sores that bleed easily or do not heal

• A change in the color of tissues

• A lump

• A rough spot

• A crusted or small eroded area

• A change in how your teeth fit together²

Other symptoms of oral cancer include pain, tenderness, or numbness.² In addition, some people with the disease have trouble swallowing, chewing, or moving the tongue or jaw.²

If you notice any of these problems, see your dental professional. Many of these symptoms can be caused by something other than oral cancer, often something less serious.² If it does turn out to be oral cancer, the disease is easier to treat when it is caught in the early stages.³

¹ “Oral Cancer.” American Cancer Society, 2007. www.cancer.org/downloads/PRO/OralCancer.pdf Accessed 2010.

² “Oral Cancer.” American Dental Association. www.ada.org/2607.aspx Accessed 2010.

³ “Oral Cancer Screening. Patient Version.” National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, June 8, 2009. www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/screening/oral/patient Accessed 2010.