Inverleith Dentalcare

Mouth Cancer Action Month: Key Symptoms and When to See Your Dentist

With Mouth Cancer Action Month here, it’s the perfect time to increase awareness about the signs and risks of oral cancer. While it’s often overlooked, mouth cancer can affect anyone, and catching it early can make a huge difference in treatment outcomes. Learning about the signs and staying proactive is a powerful first step toward protecting your health.

Why Mouth Cancer Awareness Matters

Mouth cancer, also known as oral cancer, can develop on the lips, tongue, gums, cheeks, or the roof of the mouth. This type of cancer can progress quietly, sometimes without noticeable pain or discomfort in the beginning. Because symptoms can be subtle, mouth cancer often goes unnoticed until it reaches a later stage. Early detection, however, greatly improves the chances of effective treatment and can significantly reduce the need for more extensive interventions.

Symptoms of Mouth Cancer: What to Look For

Awareness of early warning signs can empower you to act quickly. If you experience any of the following symptoms, especially if they persist for more than two weeks, it’s wise to consult a healthcare provider:

Persistent Sores or Ulcers: A sore in the mouth that doesn’t heal within a few weeks can be a potential red flag. Unlike typical sores, cancerous lesions are often painless and may not respond to standard treatments.

Unexplained Lumps or Bumps: Any lump, thickened area, or rough patch in your mouth, neck, or jaw could signal something more serious if it doesn’t resolve on its own.

Pain or Difficulty Swallowing: If swallowing or moving the jaw causes discomfort, or if you feel a “lump” in your throat, it’s worth getting checked out.

Changes in Speech or Voice: Noticeable changes in your voice, ongoing hoarseness, or slurred speech without a clear reason can be signs of an underlying issue.

Numbness or Sensation Loss: Persistent numbness in the mouth, lips, or face may indicate nerve involvement and should be assessed promptly.

The Importance of Regular Dental Checkups

Routine dental checkups do more than just keep your teeth clean—they are an essential step in preventing and detecting oral health issues early. Dentists are often the first to notice signs of mouth cancer. With regular visits, even subtle symptoms that might otherwise go unnoticed can be detected early, allowing you to take swift action if needed.

When to Take Action

Early symptoms of mouth cancer are easy to ignore, especially if they don’t cause pain. However, if you have any of the signs listed above for more than two weeks, scheduling a checkup could provide peace of mind and, if necessary, a quick pathway to treatment. Even small changes are worth mentioning to your dentist—they can assess if further investigation is needed.

Spreading Awareness and Staying Informed

This Mouth Cancer Action Month, consider encouraging friends and family to be proactive about their oral health. Knowledge about the early signs of mouth cancer can save lives, and regular dental visits play a vital role in that protection. If it’s time for your routine checkup, or if you’re experiencing any unusual symptoms, reach out to your dentist—it’s a small step that could make a big difference.

If you would like to find out more, please contact our team by calling 0131 552 4830 or emailing info@inverleithdentalcare.co.uk.

To book a consultation, you can use our direct online booking system by clicking here.

We look forward to welcoming you to Inverleith Dentalcare.

What Our Patients Are Saying

Inverleith Dentalcare

4.9

Based on 349 reviews

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Clara Gore

08:29 11 Feb 25

What a great gentle experience! Thank goodness for a lovely dentist

billy darling

08:21 11 Feb 25

Outstanding service as always

Amanda Robbins

08:15 10 Feb 25

Thomas Chan

11:20 07 Feb 25

David is very gentle and considerate with his patients. He explained every steps during the treatment. Very satisfied.

Gordon Clayton

10:00 06 Feb 25

Although a double appointment with the Hygienist is not my idea of fun, Rihanna and her Assistant were as usual very pleasant and took care to carry out the various procedures with care and ensure my comfort and provide good advice for future dental hygiene. Inverleith Dental practice can be recommended for care. .

chris fowles

15:27 30 Jan 25

I had an excellent hygiene appointment today with Brianna and Peter.They were very professional and the level of cleaning was second to none. I appreciated the advice that was given at the end of the appointment regarding my at home care.Thanks!

Brian Mulholland

14:23 06 Jan 25

I had a great experience at Inverleith Dentalcare. John McAleavey was very thorough during my check-up and used a camera system to create a 3D scan of my teeth, showing where plaque had built up, which was really helpful. Briana, the hygienist, did an excellent job, leaving my teeth feeling very clean. Overall, I was very pleased with the service and would recommend Inverleith Dentalcare, especially John and Briana.

Iwona Walkowiak

11:29 19 Dec 24

I was able to secure an emergency appointment as a new patient and was impressed by the friendly and welcoming reception staff. The dentists were both positive and highly professional, ensuring a smooth and painless removal of my wisdom tooth. Thank you so much for the exceptional care. I highly recommend their services.

Dona Easton

10:16 02 Nov 24

I cannot recommend this practice highly enough!It is a delight to visit. I am treated with courtesy, friendliness and respect from the reception staff. Likewise, my excellent dentist - Dr Chris Fowles, who is highly skilled and takes time to explain all the procedures to me, often on screen, which ensures my complete understanding of all my treatments.

David Wilson

20:26 15 Oct 24

Excellent service. Emergency appointment as lost a filling away from home. Staff were exceptionally helpful and supportive. From Reception through to Treatment it was a very positive experience. Should I move to Edinburgh I would be extremely happy to apply to join their books. Many thanksDavid Wilson

Jean Kenyon

18:00 12 Aug 24

David Neilson

16:45 08 Aug 24

Great dentistry. I would definitely recommend.

Susanne Goetzold

13:57 25 Jul 24

Really happy with this dental practice. Chris Fowles is an excellent dentist. He takes time to explain treatment and options and also explains what he is doing during check ups and treatments, so nothing comes as a surprise. Great for anxious patients. He also has a great sense of humour. Staff always really friendly and helpful.

Mariam Aziz

08:46 25 Jul 24

I would very highly recommend the Inverleith Dental clinic. They are very professional and really knowledgeable. The admin staff is very helpful and will get you the information that you need to make a decision abo the best treatments you need. Dr. John McAleavy is excellent. He was also very knowledgeable about my TMJ issues and he was really understanding during the appointment and he sign posted me to the tools I needed; this made me feel that he cares about my progress and the best outcome for my case. Overall, I had a great experience and I can confidently say that will come back to Inverleith for any follow ups and future dental needs.

mattias nuella

20:16 24 Jul 24

The staffs were nice and big ups to Dr. Chris, my consultation session with him was good and he was friendly.

Sandra Johnson

19:00 24 Jul 24

Could not ask for better treatment! Thank you so much for all your care, attention and kindness for my son Jay who is having treatment with Chris Fowles he has Cerebral palsy and cannot make it up the stairs so they use a room downstairs to support Jay, Chris has been so thoughtful and makes Jay feel at Ease and explains everything he is doing before he does it this really means a lot. Highly recommend to anyone.

Jo Nash

17:14 17 Jul 24

I met with Dr John McAleavey as a new patient for a consultation about my complex dental health situation. I'm a nervous patient and was instantly at ease on entering the practice. John really listened to my background story and quickly spotted the source of my problems that had been missed by other dentists. My assessment was the most rigorous I've ever received, yet very gentle. John took the time to explain everything thoroughly and clearly. I left the practice with a sense of peace that I'd found the answers I'd been seeking, and confident I was in the hands of expert professionals. I'd recommend them to anyone.

Rosemary Jamieson

19:58 05 Jul 24

I was anxious before my first appointment with Inverleith Dental - my dentist of 25 + years had retired and I needed a practice nearer home - but I should not have worried!The welcome from the receptionist was lovely - The initial conversation with the dentist was very helpful - I learned about the ethos of the practice and felt I was being listened to - in addition this chat took place before the mouth examination so I was not in the reclining position which can put the patient at a disadvantage!The receptionist was most helpful with my mobility problems on leavingThe beautiful Georgian building is a bonus

Ookii Neko

11:50 09 Jun 24

I found Inverleith Dentalcare as I needed emergency dental treatment. They were very accommodating and managed to allocate an appointment the next day. Their service is second to none with professional and caring staff, dentists take the time to explain the procedure to the patient, and use modern standard techniques, materials and treatments. Worth every recommendation.