If you have lesions in your mouth that aren't going away, you may wonder if you have canker sores or something else. It's a good idea to visit a dentist, as they can help you combat chronic canker sores and perform an oral cancer screening. Certain demographics—like seniors, people with poor oral hygiene, people who consume lots of alcohol, and/or smokers—are more prone to oral cancer, so it's important to know the signs and symptoms. Read on to learn more about the differences between canker sores and oral cancer.

Why Could Oral Cancer Symptoms Get Mistaken for Canker Sores?

Sometimes, people with early signs of oral cancer develop whitish patches in their mouth called leukoplakia. Small patches of leukoplakia may look like canker sores while larger patches may look like oral thrush. Unlike thrush, leukoplakia patches cannot be scraped off the tongue or oral tissues. Leukoplakia patches also aren't painful like canker sores.   

Besides leukoplakia patches, some people may mistake canker sores and oral cancer signs for each other because of chronic symptoms. Typically, canker sores heal after a couple of weeks; however, some patients may have recurring canker sores which is why they may mistake them for cancer. There are several reasons why canker sores can recur. Some canker sores can be caused by

• Deficiencies in iron, folate, zinc, or vitamin B12
• Food allergies or sensitivities, especially to nuts, cheese, spicy/acidic foods, and coffee
• Viral infections from a poor immune system
• Helicobacter pylori bacteria in the mouth (same bacteria that causes peptic ulcers)
• Foaming agents in some kinds of toothpaste

By identifying these triggers, you'll be able to reduce recurrent canker sores. In general, canker sores will heal and fade, but oral cancers will not go away and need to be treated with surgery and/or chemotherapy. Lastly, canker sores usually have even borders; they are round with a depressed white, yellow, or gray center. The outer rim of the canker sore may be red. Oral cancers may have similar colors to canker sores, but they usually won't have even borders and may be many shapes besides circular.

What Should You Do if You Notice an Oral Lesion?

If you are a high-risk demographic for oral cancer, you should be sure to visit your dentist as soon as you can since cancers that are detected early are much easier to treat. Whether or not you are in a high-risk category, it's a good idea to schedule oral cancer screenings with your dentist during your yearly cleaning appointments. If it turns out that you just have a canker sore, your dentist can help you identify triggers and recommend toothpaste that is suitable for recurrent canker sores.

Reach out to a family dentist's office like Bremen Family Dentistry, PC for more info.