Oral ulcers and oral cancer: Know the risks and prevent them early

Many people have suffered from oral ulcers. Many people think that this is caused by getting angry and will heal itself after a period of time. However, it should be noted that if the symptoms of oral ulcers do not heal for a long time, you should be alert to the risk of oral cancer.

1. What are the causes of oral ulcers ?

There is no consensus in the scientific community about the specific cause of oral ulcers, but it is generally believed that it is the result of the combined effect of multiple factors. Among them, genetic factors are considered to be an important influencing factor, and some people may be more susceptible to oral ulcers due to genetics. In addition, eating habits are also closely related to the occurrence of oral ulcers, especially the lack of nutrients such as B vitamins, iron, and zinc, which may increase the risk of disease. When the body's immunity decreases, such as in the case of a cold, fatigue, or mood swings, the incidence of oral ulcers may also increase. Mental stress, poor sleep quality, and physical damage in the mouth, such as accidentally biting the oral mucosa, may also become factors that induce oral ulcers.

2. What symptoms should alert you to oral cancer?

Based on the location of occurrence, the disease is divided into buccal mucosal cancer, tongue cancer, floor of mouth cancer, gingival cancer, palate cancer, etc. Tongue cancer is generally on the side edge of the tongue, or on the back of the tongue, and is mainly of the ulcer type. Most patients will think it is a general oral ulcer and directly use the corresponding medicine, which affects the condition. Buccal mucosal cancer and gingival cancer are also ulcerative types, and there is a problem of progressive mouth opening limitation. In severe cases, the mouth cannot be opened. As the disease progresses, palate cancer may cause problems with the mouth and nose communicating. Floor of mouth cancer is mainly squamous cell carcinoma, which is generally of ulcerative type. At the same time, the patient's saliva becomes more, painful, and tongue movement is limited. Some patients have difficulty swallowing, which affects language function. Regardless of the type of oral cancer, there are symptoms of oral ulcers. If it has not healed for more than two weeks, it should be taken seriously and go to the hospital for diagnosis as soon as possible. Doctors provide treatment plans based on experience and expertise. If a general oral ulcer is suspected, it can be treated in a targeted manner. The patient should not eat irritating foods and go to the hospital for a follow-up examination after one or two weeks. If a traumatic ulcer is suspected, the ulcer will heal on its own if the cause is removed. If a cancerous ulcer is suspected, an oral biopsy is required to determine the subsequent treatment plan based on the pathology.

3. The difference between oral ulcers caused by oral cancer and general oral ulcers

There are many factors that cause oral ulcers, such as staying up late for a long time, genetic factors, reduced immunity, women's menstrual period, high mental stress, digestive system diseases and functional disorders, systemic diseases, etc. Oral ulcers caused by these factors are softer, and the surface is generally covered with a yellow-white pseudomembrane, with a sunken center, clear boundaries, and red edges. They appear in different parts of the mouth and usually heal on their own in about a week. In addition to being self-limiting, recurrent oral ulcers are also recurrent and cyclical, and generally do not appear in the same location. Oral ulcers caused by oral cancer generally occur in the same location and do not heal themselves for a long time. They are shaped like cauliflower, feel bumpy to the touch, have a hard texture, and are painful and have a foul odor.

4. How to prevent oral cancer?

Don't smoke or drink : Alcohol is a solvent for carcinogens, which can cause carcinogens to enter the oral mucosa and promote their growth. Some people ignore oral hygiene, which provides conditions for bacteria to reproduce. Therefore, people with a history of smoking and drinking should quit smoking and drinking in time to prevent oral cancer.

Pay attention to oral hygiene : Patients should pay attention to oral hygiene in their daily lives, form a good habit of brushing teeth in the morning and evening, use medicine or saline to rinse the mouth to reduce bacteria in the mouth, and avoid food residues that further aggravate the infection.

Balanced diet : Patients should eat more foods rich in vitamins A, B, E, as well as foods rich in the trace element selenium, and try to avoid eating high-fat foods.

Regular oral examinations : To prevent oral cancer, patients should develop a good habit of regular oral examinations. Oral examinations can help you understand your oral health in a timely manner, so that you can detect lesions in time and treat them as soon as possible. Therefore, you need to clean your teeth and have an oral examination once a year.

Treat oral ulcers promptly : If you find yourself suffering from oral ulcers, you should pay attention to it and treat it promptly. If it does not heal for a long time or recurs, it will cause repeated damage to the oral mucosa and increase the probability of disease.

Avoid oral irritation : If there are sharp remaining teeth in the mouth, or if you wear ill-fitting dentures, it will irritate the oral mucosa and increase the probability of disease.

Other preventive measures : Because oral cancer has a hereditary probability, people with a family history should have regular oral examinations to understand their oral condition. In addition, some people with bad habits need to correct their bad habits such as long-term chewing of betel nuts in a timely manner.

Although oral ulcers and oral cancer are different, there is a certain connection between the two. Understanding the risk factors of these two diseases and taking effective preventive measures are of great significance for maintaining oral health. We should quit smoking, drinking, and betel nut, maintain oral hygiene and a balanced diet, have regular oral examinations, and deal with oral problems in a timely manner. Through these measures, we can reduce the risk of oral ulcers and oral cancer and protect our health.

Author: Li Qiuzhong, Second Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical College