The dentists at Elmsleigh House Dental Clinic are trained to look for the signs of mouth cancer; mouth cancer screening is included in our regular check-up appointments. Our dentists are looking for subtle changes in the lining of your mouth, so it is important that you have regular check-ups so that changes can be noticed, as well as for your overall dental and general health.
Common symptoms of mouth cancer include red, or red-and-white patches on the lining of your mouth or tongue, one or more mouth ulcers that do not heal after three weeks, a swelling in your mouth that lasts for more than three weeks, pain when swallowing, loose teeth for no obvious reason, a persistent pain in the neck, a hoarse voice, unusual changes in your sense of taste, swollen lymph nodes (glands) in your neck, earache and unexplained weight loss.
If you have any of these symptoms lasting for more than three weeks, visit your GP or tell your dentist. Our dentists will screen for oral cancer at your routine check-up.