What Are The Symptoms Of Oral Cancer On The Gums?

What Are The Symptoms Of Oral Cancer On The Gums?

2020-09-17 0 By Karen Smith

How can one tell if they have oral cancer on the gums? What are the symptoms of oral cancer and what cancer treatment can be used on people who have mouth cancer? This article will talk about mouth cancer, its symptoms and the possible treatment methods that can be used to cure this disease. After reading this article, it is best to consult your oral health practitioner if you are worried that you have mouth cancer. 

 

What Is Mouth Cancer? 

Oral cancer is a type of cancer that appears in the oral cavity. There are many types of cancers that can be considered as mouth cancer. Any cancer that starts developing inside the oral cavity may also sometimes be referred to as oral cancer or oral cavity cancer. 

Mouth cancer is one of the kinds of cancer that occur on the head and neck area. There are many instances where oral cancer on the gums can develop. It pays to know the symptoms to look out for so that one can go in for a proper diagnosis. 

 

Symptoms To Look Out For 

When one is looking for mouth cancer in the oral cavity, there are several symptoms that they can try to spot. Here is a list of mouth cancer symptoms that may show up. 

 

Mouth Sores That Do Not Heal 

If you have mouth sores that do not seem to heal, or if they do heal, it will take an immense amount of time, this may be a sign of mouth cancer. Normal mouth sores usually heal in a matter of days. However, if you notice that you are getting mouth sores that take a long time to heal, or if you have mouth sores frequently, it may be a good idea for you to see a doctor. 

A Growth Inside The Mouth 

If there are abnormal growths that start appearing in your oral cavity, there isoral cancer on gums a chance that you may have mouth cancer since this is also a symptom of the disease. 

Loose Teeth 

Having loose teeth is also a sign of oral cancer. If your dentist has not yet ruled out gum disease as the cause of your loose teeth, it may be a good idea to visit your dentist. If they say that you do not currently have gingivitis, periodontitis or any other form of gum disease, the cause may be mouth cancer. Early detection is the key to defeating cancer. It will be a good idea to visit a doctor to get a proper diagnosis and to find the root cause of the disease. 

Pain In The Mouth 

Pain is your body’s signal that there is something wrong going on. It will be a good idea to heed these signals and go in for a check up with your doctor. The pain that coincides with mouth cancer can be in the mouth or extending in the neck area. If your jaw is on pain you should get a check up too.

Difficulty Swallowing 

Along with any pain or discomfort you feel, you may have difficulty swallowing. This symptom is caused by growths that may be developing in places that are unobservable by the naked eye. 

 

Possible Treatment Options 

With the development of modern medicine, there are many treatment methods that can be used to treat mouth cancer. If you suspect that you have oral cancer on gums and other tissues in your mouth, these treatment methods. 

 

  • Surgery 

It is possible for surgical techniques to be used to extract and remove the cancer cells if the disease is discovered early enough. The surgery will be used to remove any cancerous tissue and cells found in the mouth and neck. 

  • Radiation Treatment 

This treatment method involves shining a beam of radiation into the part of the oral cavity that has the oral cancer cells. This cancer treatment is meant to be done multiple times in a day, as recommended by the doctor. 

  • Targeted Therapy 

Targeted therapy involves using a combination of methods, like medicines and other forms of cancer treatment to target the cancer cells and interfere with the growth of the cancer cells and tissue.  

  • Chemotherapy 

This type of cancer treatment for oral cancer on gums may sometimes require a patient to be hospitalized, but most patients receive the treatment as outpatients. This form of cancer treatment involves taking certain medications to kill the cancer cells. 

  • Eating Right 

It is important for a patient with oral cancer (or any other type of cancer) to eat right and keep as healthy as they can throughout the treatment. Eating a balanced diet as recommended by their doctor will help keep their bodies strong and able to fight the disease. 

  • Keeping Your Mouth Healthy 

Even if one has been diagnosed with oral cancer, it is still important to keep the mouth free from bacteria and microbes that may cause complications for the person. 

 

Recovery From Mouth Cancer 

The chances of getting rid of all the cancer cells will be high if the mouth cancer is discovered in it is early stages. Recovery from the disease is very much possible. However, there are some side-effects of the treatment methods and medications to treat mouth cancer. The treatment methods are needed in order to cure mouth cancer. People who have cancer often will not be able to get rid of oral cancer on gums without the use of these treatment methods. People will often have a much better chance of surviving the disease if one of these treatment methods is used. 

oral cancer on gums detected by dentistChemotherapy will often have a person lose their hair, feel nauseous and may also target healthy cells in the process of trying to kill off the cancer cells. These are only some of the undesirable effects that chemotherapy will have on a person’s body. Surgery to remove cancer cells may affect a person’s ability to chew and swallow, depending on how much tissues are removed. Radiation therapy may also result in a person having a dry mouth and throat and also result in tooth decay.  

Before undergoing treatment, your doctor will discuss possible treatment options to you. They will also tell you about the side-effects and possible after-effects that a person may experience when the treatment will be over. The doctor will let you know of all of these so that you will be able to make a decision about the treatment method you will choose.  

 

Final Thoughts 

If you are worried that you may have undiagnosed mouth cancer, it is a good idea to visit your doctor. Getting an accurate diagnosis early will go a long way in how successful the treatment will be. The key to being able to beat cancer is early detection. This is why the moment you first notice symptoms, it will be much better to see a doctor sooner rather than later.  

Your doctor will be able to detect if you have oral cancer. They will also be able to tell you if you have an early or advanced stage of the disease and the possible treatment methods that can be used for your case. A simple mouth exam may be enough to diagnose oral cancer. If the doctor is able to find it early enough and treat it right away, the chances of complete cure are quite high.