What is Oral Cancer?
Oral cancer refers to the abnormal growth of cells in areas such as the lips, tongue, cheeks, floor of the mouth, gums or the hard palate. These changes can begin subtly, and detecting them early—when they’re easiest to treat—makes a significant difference for outcomes.
Key Warning Signs
- A sore or lesion in the mouth that doesn’t heal within two weeks.
- Red, white, or mixed-color patches in the mouth lining.
- A lump, thickened area or firmness in the soft tissues of the mouth.
- Unexplained numbness, tingling or bleeding.
- Loosening of teeth without clear cause.
- Difficulty chewing, swallowing, hoarseness, or chronic sore throat.
- Unexplained ear pain on one side without other ear symptoms.
How Common is It?
In Canada, thousands of new cases of oral cancer are diagnosed each year, and a substantial number result in fatalities. Specifically, annual figures show over 5,300 new diagnoses (outside Quebec), and roughly 1,450 deaths annually. Men are diagnosed at a higher rate than women.
How is Oral Cancer Found?
Oral cancer screening is done through a visual and physical examination of the tissues in and around the mouth, combined with a review of the individual’s health history. If anything appears suspicious, a biopsy is the definitive way to confirm a diagnosis. While light-based tools may assist in inspection, they cannot replace a biopsy.
What Happens During a Screening?
- Update on your health history, including tobacco/alcohol use and any new symptoms.
- Extra-oral exam of your jaw, neck and lymph nodes.
- Intra-oral exam under bright light — lips, cheeks, tongue, floor of mouth, gums, palate — with gentle palpation.
- Documentation of any findings and plan for follow-up.
- If a suspicious area is seen, a referral or biopsy is arranged for confirmation.
How We Support You at Our Practice
At Sunny Day Dental, the screening is built into your regular dental hygiene or exam visit—so it doesn’t add extra hassle. We document findings, take photographs if needed, and clearly explain the next steps if monitoring or further evaluation is required. Our goal is to make screening and early detection easy and consistent.
to schedule an initial consultation & exam.
Your consultation will include an examination of everything from your teeth, gums and soft tissues to the shape and condition of your bite. Generally, we want to see how your whole mouth looks and functions. Before we plan your treatment we want to know everything about the health and aesthetic of your smile, and, most importantly, what you want to achieve so we can help you get there.