When it comes to attending dental check-ups, it is easy to see why these appointments are so easy to put off or overlook for many.
Unless you have a persistent dental issue like gum disease, few people really understand the point of seeing our team biannually; if your teeth are OK and there’s no obvious issue, then what’s the point?
Well, our team at Harley Street Dental is trained to spot less than obvious issues and when they ask you about your oral health, if you give them certain answers such as issues with recurring lumps, this will warrant further investigation.
Our dedicated team at Harley Street takes your oral health seriously and through visiting our dentist Harley Street every 6 months, you enable us to check for signs of more serious and less obvious issues, such as oral cancer. We pride ourselves on our oral cancer prevention and should you need any further tests, such as biopsies, we can refer you on immediately.
But what are some of the signs of oral cancer that should be checked out by our dentist Harley Street? Read on to find out, as quick treatment can make a huge difference.
Lumps and bumps
If you notice a gradually growing lump on your gums, on your inner cheek or on your jaw, you need to see our dentist Harley Street.
While usually harmless, odd bumps and lumps are one of the first signs of a cancerous growth that need to be checked out by a professional, even if it isn’t hurting or a darker colour than the rest of your mouth.
Sporadic bleeding
It happens to the best of us; we will be eating something and through an overly enthusiastic bite, we may catch our inner cheek or tongue.
But if you notice a metallic taste in your mouth regularly or identify blood in your mouth when chewing gum or biting an apple, you need to have your mouth examined. Much like an odd freckle that changes shape and bleeds, an unseen mole in your mouth may bleed at odd times too and need to be explored for cancerous cells.
White specks
Have you ever had a mouth ulcer?
To look at, they resemble white or yellow dots and while ulcers are usually benign, if you notice an ulcer or white specks on your inner lip, cheeks or gums that keep coming back, you need to see our team.
Numbness
Oral numbness is a very rare symptom and to be honest, few patients ignore it.
The easiest way to spot numbness in the mouth is to sip some warm soup; if you can feel that it is warm on your lips, your tongue, your gums or your inner cheeks, then it is unlikely to be numb.
If you cannot detect any sensation, contact us.
Hoarseness
Do you have a consistently hoarse throat? Tumours of the throat or larynx usually grow near the vocal chords, causing the persistent hoarseness or sore throat. If you have these symptoms, call our team.