The inside of the mouth is normally lined with a special type of skin (mucosa) that is smooth and coral pink in color. Any alteration in this appearance could be a warning sign for a pathological process, the most serious being oral cancer. Ocoee Oral Surgery looks for the following signs at the beginning of a pathologic process or cancerous growth:

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

These changes can be detected on the cheeks, palate, lips, and gum tissue around the tongue, teeth, face and/or neck. Pain is not often associated with oral cancer. However, anyone with oral and/or facial pain with no obvious cause may be at risk for oral cancer.