Chemotherapy and radiation therapy may cause changes in the lining of the mouth and the salivary glands, which make saliva. This can upset the healthy balance of bacteria. These changes may lead to mouth sores, infections, and tooth decay.
If you don't produce enough saliva because of cancer treatment, plaque can build up more easily on your teeth. Plaque can cause tooth decay and gum disease.
Mouth cancer can develop in most parts of the mouth, including the lips, gums and occasionally the throat. The most common symptoms of mouth cancer are: sore mouth ulcers that do not heal within several weeks. unexplained, persistent lumps in the mouth that do not go away.
Oral cancers develop on the tongue, the tissue lining the mouth and gums, under the tongue, at the base of the tongue, and the area of the throat at the back of the mouth. Oral cancer accounts for roughly three percent of all cancers diagnosed annually in the United States, or about 53,000 new cases each year.
The dentist does not diagnose oral cancer during the screening. Instead, the dentist looks for suspicious spots or abnormalities. If such a spot is discovered, a biopsy is recommended. The biopsied tissue is sent to a lab for diagnosis.
More than 90 percent of cancers that occur in the oral cavity are squamous cell carcinomas.
A teratoma is a rare type of germ cell tumor that may contain immature or fully formed tissue, including teeth, hair, bone and muscle. Teratomas may be cancerous or noncancerous, and they can affect people of all ages.
A tumor could cause tooth mobility on your jawbone, pushing your teeth out of place. While pain, swelling, lumps on the jaw, or loose teeth could be due to other oral conditions, they're also all realistic jaw cancer symptoms.
Some other symptoms that may be signs of oral cancer are unexplained chronic mouth pain and pain in the teeth or jaw, loose teeth, white or red patches in the mouth or throat area, problems with swallowing or chewing, a lump in the neck, or chronic bad breath.
Mouth Pain
The pain might seem to be in your teeth, gums, or the lining of your mouth. This is the most common symptom of oral cancer.
Early signs of oral cancer may be mistaken for other problems, such as a toothache or cold. If symptoms persist for several weeks or months, it is important to see your doctor so that, if oral cancer is present, it may be diagnosed as soon as possible.
It happens for a variety of reasons: periodontal disease, teeth grinding, not wearing a retainer, and plain old aging are all potential causes of shifting teeth.
"There are two basic ways that oral cancers present in the mouth — as white patches or red patches," says Dr. Kain. "Red patches are a bit more concerning than white patches, but either needs to be evaluated if it doesn't go away after several weeks."
An acoustic neuroma is a benign brainstem tumour that can manifest as a toothache and/or numbness around the orofacial region. This case demonstrates that not all signs and symptoms that occur in the mouth are abnormalities within the mouth.
Bone cancer is one of the most painful cancers. Factors that drive bone cancer pain evolve and change with disease progression, according to Patrick Mantyh, PhD, symposium speaker and professor of pharmacology, University of Arizona.
Cancer pain may be mild, moderate or severe. It may take several forms, such as feeling like a sharp stabbing pain that comes and goes, a tingling or burning sensation or a persistent ache. Cancer pain affects your quality of life. It can make certain cancer symptoms and treatment side effects feel worse.
Oral cancer is fairly common. It can be cured if found and treated at an early stage (when it's small and has not spread). A healthcare provider or dentist often finds oral cancer in its early stages because the mouth and lips are easy to examine. Almost all oral cancers are squamous cell carcinomas.
Teeth shifting – it's perfectly normal to experience this as you age. Unfortunately, it's not always comfortable, nor is it healthy. When your teeth shift and your bite changes, your dental health is in jeopardy. You can experience more dental issues, including dental decay, and gum disease.
Unfortunately, teeth tend to try to migrate back to their “natural” position. You may not notice the change from day to day, but over the course of months or years, you could see your teeth shift after getting your braces off.
Pain in your mouth
Pain, discomfort or swelling in your mouth that doesn't go away is the other most common symptom of mouth cancer.