Pathology

Occasionally, lumps or sores can form inside the oral cavity.  This could be a sign of a local or general pathologic process, or cancerous growth. The most serious of these is oral cancer. Furthermore, a more common entity is a benign growth, it may not be cancer, but it can be locally destructive.

The following are signs of the beginning of a pathologic process:

• A lump or thickening on the gum lining
• Red or white patches in the oral cavity
• Ulcers in the oral cavity
• Difficulty swallowing or chewing
• Sores that bleed easily or heals slowly