Know Symptoms & Causes Of Mouth Cancer

By Sheetal Tewari

Mouth cancer, also known as oral cancer can occur in any part of your mouth. It can start anywhere in the mouth, including your lips, tongue, gums, floor of your mouth, behind wisdom teeth, back of the tongue and inside the cheeks and lips. There are many known symptoms and causes of mouth cancer and if you know them you can avoid some dire consequences of this deadly disease.

Though, it is a known fact that excessive smokers and drinkers are vulnerable to oral cancer but there are some researches that defend this. According to a research, over 25 percent of all oral cancers occur in people who do not smoke and who only drink alcohol occasionally.

Know Symptoms & Causes Of Mouth Cancer

Let's have a look on the symptoms and causes of mouth cancer.

The most common symptoms of mouth cancer are:

  • You get a persistent sour in your mouth. It doesn't heal even after taking medicines.
  • There will be swelling, rough patches, lump on your lips, tongue or in the neck.
  • Teeth get loose and you have difficulty chewing food.
  • There is constant pain and uneasiness in your mouth.
  • There can be ulcers at the back of the throat and you have difficulty swallowing food.
  • Sometimes there is a loss of feeling of pain in the mouth. The affected area gets numb.
  • You have difficulty moving your jaw and speaking.
  • You lose weight as you have problem swallowing food.
  • Your voice becomes husky or there is a change in your voice.
  • Also, unexplained bleeding in your mouth is a major symptom of mouth cancer.
  • You also get ear pain and bad breath.
  • These symptoms are not always caused by mouth cancer but if you are suffering from any of the symptoms, see your dentist.

The most common causes of mouth cancer are:

According to some researches, men face twice the risk of mouth cancer as women and especially men in their 50s are at the greatest risk.

  • If you smoke any form of tobacco; cigarette, cigar, bidi, pipe or hand rolled cigarettes that contain cannabis, you are at risk to have mouth cancer. Also chewing tobacco like betel quid, gutkha and paan makes you more vulnerable to oral cancer.
  • People who consume alcohol are six times more likely to develop mouth cancer than non-drinkers. Excessive consumption of alcohol is anyways not good for your body.
  • Also, if any of your family member had cancer or is suffering from it at present, you have to be very careful.
  • Excessive sun exposure, especially when you are young puts you at more risk of cancer.
  • Sometimes conditions like leukoplakia and erythroplakia which affects the mouth can increase the risk of the development of cancer.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Story first published: Tuesday, June 11, 2013, 18:38 [IST]
Read more about: cancer disease health