Oral Pathologies

Inside the mouth the special lining of skin (mucosa) is pink and smooth in color. Any alteration in this appearance could be a warning sign for a pathological process (involving disease). The most serious of these is oral cancer.

The following signs can be present at the beginning of a pathologic process or cancerous growth:

• Reddish patches (erythroplakia) or whitish patches (leukoplakia) in the mouth
• A thickening of lump skin lining the inside of the mouth
• A sore that fails to heal and bleeds easily
• Chronic sore throat or hoarseness
• Difficulty in chewing or swallowing

Some of these changes can be detected anywhere inside our mouth and tissue around the teeth, tongue, face, and/or neck. Pain does not always occur with disease and, curiously, is not often associated with oral cancer. However, any patient with facial and/or oral pain without an obvious cause or reason may also be at risk for oral cancer.