Oral Cancer Screening

Oral cancer refers to any of the possible cancers that can occur in the mouth, such as on the lips, gums, and tongue.

There were approximately 700 new cases of oral cancer diagnosed in Australia in 2021, so while this is not a highly common illness, it is important to check for the early warning signs so that it can be addressed as soon as possible when it does occur.

That’s why it’s important to be seen by a professional who knows what to look for, and that’s why Dental Cube Kellyville Ridge’s dentist routinely perform visual and tactile inspections during our routine dental check-ups to look for potential signs of oral cancer.

What is oral cancer?

Oral cancer, also known as mouth cancer, can actually be any number of cancers. These can affect your:

• Lips
• Tongue
• Gums
• Cheeks
• Tonsils
• Roof or floor of the mouth

When detected early enough, the survival rate for oral cancers is as high as 90%, which is why it’s so important to not just keep an eye out for any potential signs yourself, but to be seen by a professional who knows what to look for.

What are the common symptoms of mouth cancer?

Mouth cancer can be hard to spot in the early stages, but becomes more obvious with noticeable symptoms as it spreads.

These are some of the common symptoms of oral cancer:

• Sores around your lips or mouth that won’t heal
• Lumps inside your mouth
• General pain somewhere in your mouth
• Pain when swallowing
• Red or white patches inside your mouth
• Loose teeth

Just because you have some of these symptoms, it does not necessarily mean you have mouth cancer, as they can be caused by a number of reasons.

However, if your dentist spots any of these symptoms and cannot be sure of their cause (such as loose teeth due to periodontitis), they may refer you to a specialist to have a biopsy and rule out cancer as a cause.

During your dental appointment, your dentist will be on the lookout for any of the visual symptoms and warning signs of mouth cancer.