How Do I Check My Mouth for Signs of Cancer at Home?
Performing a monthly self-exam of your mouth can help you notice changes early. Here is a step-by-step guide.
A monthly oral cancer self-exam takes about 2 minutes and can help you become familiar with what is normal for your mouth so you notice anything unusual.
Step-by-Step Self-Exam
- Step 1: Look at your face and neck
- Stand in front of a mirror with good lighting
- Look at your face and neck for any swelling, bumps, or asymmetry
- Turn your head side to side
- Step 2: Look inside your lips and cheeks
- Pull your lower lip down and look at the inside surface
- Use your thumb and index finger to feel the lip for any lumps
- Pull your cheek out and look at the inside surface β the pink tissue
- Check the area where your teeth meet your cheek
- Step 3: Look at your gums
- Lift your upper lip and look at your gums
- Pull down your lower lip and check the lower gums
- Look for any white patches, red patches, dark spots, or sores
- Step 4: Look at the roof of your mouth
- Tilt your head back and open wide
- Look at the roof of your mouth (hard palate)
- Check for any lumps, bumps, or color changes
- Step 5: Look at your tongue
- Stick out your tongue and look at all surfaces β top, sides, and bottom
- Gently pull your tongue to the left and right to check the sides
- Lift your tongue to look at the floor of your mouth
- Feel your tongue for any lumps or hard areas
- Step 6: Feel your neck
- Place your fingers flat on each side of your neck
- Gently press and feel for any lumps, knots, or tender areas
- Check under your jaw and along your collarbones
What You Are Looking For
- Look for any of these changes:
- A sore that does not heal within 2 weeks
- White or red patches anywhere in the mouth
- A lump, thickening, or rough spot
- Numbness or tingling
- Bleeding without a clear cause
- A change in how your teeth fit together or how your dentures fit
- Any spot that looks different from the surrounding tissue
When to See a Doctor
If you find anything unusual that does not go away within 2 weeks, see a dentist or ENT doctor. Remember:
- Most findings are harmless
- You are looking for persistent changes, not things that come and go
- When in doubt, have it checked β peace of mind is worth the visit