Oral cancer is a serious condition categorized by a wide variety of symptoms and locales within the mouth. Cancer begins as a cellular problem in which reproduction experiences some sort of malfunction, either in the form of extraneous cell growth or cells that don’t die as they should. In either case, the buildup of these damaged cells creates a growth called a tumor. Tumors can be either benign, in which case they aren’t a threat to life and can often be removed with ease, or they can be malignant, in which case they can spread to other areas and constitute a legitimate threat to your health.

Risk Factors

There are certain activities that increase the likelihood of a patient developing oral cancer. These risk factors include the use of tobacco products, which isn’t limited to smoking. Chewing tobacco is just as harmful, if not more so, than smoking tobacco. Alcohol is yet another cause of oral cancers, and patients who use one or both of these substances are significantly more likely to develop oral cancer. It has been estimated that roughly 75 percent of all oral cancer patients are regular users of alcohol, tobacco, or both. HPV infection can also lead to oral cancers that predominant the back of the throat or base of the tongue. Improper diet and overexposure to the sun have also been known to cause oral cancers.

Symptoms

One of the most noticeable symptoms of oral cancer is discoloration and patching in the oral cavity. White patches, red patches, and mixed patches can often become malignant. Other common symptoms include:

• Loose teeth
• Bleeding from the mouth
• Sores in or around the mouth that won’t heal
• Lip or chin numbness
• Difficulty with swallowing
• Pain when chewing

While experiencing one or more of these symptoms doesn’t necessarily indicate the presence of oral cancer it should be noted that any of these symptoms should be reported to a doctor or oral surgeon immediately.

Treatment Options

Surgery is the most common treatment for oral cancers. Physically removing the tumor is the best option for reducing the risk of reoccurrences, and radiation therapy is usually used in combination with surgery to fully ensure a successful outcome. Other forms of therapy are available, such as chemotherapy and targeted therapies, but these are reserved for the most extreme circumstances.