You don't have to be a dentist to spot your dental problems, in fact there are some
distinguishable warning signs which might help self-diagnosis of oral diseases.
Usually, each dental disease gives a clue or symptom to be easily diagnosed and
the following table is mini-guide for most popular dental diseases.
Observe your mouth in bright light with a mirror:
- Look and feel inside the lips and the front of gums.
- Tilt head back. Inspect and feel the roof of your mouth.
- Pull cheek out. Examine the inside surface as well as the back of the gums.
- Pull out your tongue. Then look minutely over its surface.
- Feel for lumps or enlarged lymph nodes on both sides of the neck including under
the lower jaw.
Do you have any of these?
- White patches of the oral tissues - leukoplakia.
- Red patches - erythroplakia.
- Red and white patches - erythroleukoplakia
- A sore that bleeds easily and refuses to heal.
- An abnormal lump or thickening of oral tissues.
- Chronic sore throat or hoarseness.
- Difficulty in chewing or swallowing.
- A mass or lump in the neck.
Factors that may lead to Oral Cancer
- Use of tobacco and alcohol.
- Poor oral hygiene.
- Irritation caused by ill-fitting dentures.
- Poor nutrition.
- Prior chronic infections.
- Combination of the above factors.
Do you have any of these?
- Toothaches.
- Blackish discoloration.
- Food lodgement.
- Foul smell.
- Pain/sensation on eating sweets,hot or cold foodstuff.
Do you have any of these?
- Bleeding while brushing.
- Swollen gums.
- Persistent bad breath.
- Mobility observed in the teeth.
- Gums being pulled away from its normal position.
