When Toothache Symptoms Turn Out To Be A Tumour: What Symptoms To Look Out For

Jul 16, 2021 | Dental Information

There can be certain instances where you bite down on something a little too hot or too cold and experience staunch pain or a nagging jaw. Most people just assume this pain is a toothache and brush it off. Fortunately, this is the likely pain culprit majority of the time; however, there are instances where the root cause of the discomfort is something far more serious. Any facial pain, especially jaw pain, should always be evaluated if it persists to avoid serious diseases and nerve issues, such as a tumour.

In this article, we’ll inform you on why it’s imperative to never skip your annual dental check-ups and what toothache symptoms and signs to be aware of and when they may be masking a tumour or jaw cancer.

1. Jaw Pain

Jaw pain can impact one’s ability to speak and eat comfortably. It may have developed as a result of an injury, but can also be related to oral cancer. It is one of the main symptoms of oral cavity growth from Metastatic tumours. Metastatic tumour growths form when cancer from one area of the body spreads to another. You will likely know if and when you have jaw pain, as the facial pain can worsen over time and there may be muscle tenderness, facial swelling, earaches or popping sounds when you open and close your mouth.

2. Lumps On Your Jaw

If you’ve felt any lumps on the roof of your mouth or near the gum line, you should contact your family dentist in Sarnia as soon as you can. This is, at times, the only jaw cancer symptom that some individuals will experience. The lumps can be indicative that the cancer is forming on the jawbone under the mouth’s soft tissues. If you notice any new lumps inside your mouth that do not dissipate in at least two weeks, you should contact your dentist.

3. Inflamed Jaw

Swelling on the jaw is one of the most common signs of Osteosarcoma, which is a type of cancer that develops immature bone. This bone tumour affects the jaw and is considered a rare malignant condition. The inflammation may be identifiable on the side of one’s face, however, it can also develop inside the mouth as well. The swelling can sometimes be visible on the side of one’s face or in the roof of the mouth. There can also be swelling that develops beneath the teeth, depending on the location of the bone tumour. When it forms beneath the bone, it can also lead to gum irritation.

Any pain, swelling, lumps or loose teeth should be examined by a Slipacoff dentist in Sarnia immediately. As these are all jaw cancer symptoms, it’s important to have them looked over instead of hoping for the pain to just dissipate. Contact us to schedule an appointment.