Examining your mouth

You are at a higher risk for developing oral cancer if:

• you use tobacco products
• drink excessive amounts of alcohol
• exposed to sunlight on a regular basis
• have habits such as lip biting and cheek chewing
• have ill-fitting dentures

It is important to learn how to examine yourself for signs of oral cancer and to have regular check-ups in order to increase the chances of discovering the condition in the early stages before it progresses.  Some early warning signs of oral cancer are:

• any sores on the face, neck, or mouth that do not heal within two weeks
• swellings, lumps or bumps on the lips, gums or other areas inside the mouth
• white, red, or dark patches in the mouth
• repeated bleeding in the mouth
• numbness, loss of feeling, or pain in any area of the face, mouth or neck

To perform the oral cancer self examination, just follow these 7 easy steps.

Look at and feel your:

◊ Head and Neck

• look at your face and neck in a mirror. Normally, the left and right sides of the face have the same shape. Look for any lumps, bumps, or swellings that are only on one side of your face

◊ Face

• examine the skin on your face. Do you notice any colour or size changes, sores, moles, or growths?

◊ Neck

• press along the sides and front of the neck. Do you feel any tenderness or lumps?

◊ Lips

• pull your lower lip down and look inside for any sores or colour changes. Next, use your thumb and forefinger to feel the lip for lumps, bumps, or changes in texture. Repeat this on your upper lip

 ◊ Cheek

• use your fingers to pull out your cheek so you can see inside. look for red, white, or dark patches. Put your index finger on the inside of your cheek and your thumb on the outside. Gently squeeze and roll your cheek between your fingers to check for any lumps or areas of tenderness. Repeat this on the other cheek

◊ Roof of the Mouth

• tilt your head back and open your mouth wide to see it there are any lumps or if the colour is different than usual. Run your finger on the roof to feel for lumps

 ◊ Floor of the Mouth and Tongue

• Stick out your tongue and look at the top surface for colour and texture. Gently pull your tongue forward to look at one side first and then the other. Look for any swellings or colour changes. Examine the underside of your tongue by placing the tip of the tongue on the roof of your mouth.
  
  Look at the floor of your mouth and the underside of your tongue for colour changes that are very different from what is normal. Gently press your finger along the underside of your tongue to feel for any lumps or swellings

If you find anything out of the ordinary, particularly anything that does not heal or go away in two weeks, or that has recently changed, discuss it with your oral health professional or physician.