Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Can recurrent mouth sores lead to oral cancer?
- Recurrent mouth sores (aphthous ulcers) are most commonly caused by immune system dysfunction or viral infections and do not directly progress to oral cancer. However, oral cancer can sometimes be mistaken for a mouth sore. If a lesion persists for more than two weeks without improvement or continues to grow, a medical evaluation is essential.
Q. How can I tell the difference between a mouth sore and oral cancer?
- Ordinary mouth sores typically resolve within 1–2 weeks. Oral cancer lesions persist, do not heal, and may be accompanied by pain, bleeding, firm texture on palpation, or foul breath. Any non-healing lesion lasting more than two weeks should be evaluated by a physician or dentist.
Q. What can I eat after surgery?
- Dietary progression after surgery depends on the extent of resection. After limited excision, a soft diet is generally tolerated within a short period. After more extensive resection with reconstruction, patients typically require a 2–3 day fast followed by a gradual progression from clear liquids to a normal diet over several weeks. In some cases, enteral (tube) feeding may be temporarily required.