Appointment Tuesday...scared of oral cancer

[saturnthegiant]

Hello all. I am 43 and have been addicted to tobacco in one form or another a good part of my life, after seeing my grandparents chew, and my father smoke. I stopped using tobacco of any kind about a month ago. I have bony growths on the outside of both sides of my lower gums, they seem to be bilateral, and have been there as long as I can remember. They are near my middle molars, on the bottom only. On the left side the gum is pink and healthy. The look like exotoses from pictures I have seen. On the right side though, the bony bump is very red, actually the entire gum on that side is dark red. At times my gums sting around the bottom of my teeth on that side. I have never done good oral care except for brushing, i never floss regularly. I obviously have some gingivitis on that side but I'm scared to death it's some kind of cancer. The redness has been there as long as I can remember and doesn't seem to have grown, I mean it doesn't seem to be a tumor. The gums don't seem to be swollen, just red. I have had some bleeding after brushing. Of course I have convinced myself of the worst. I have been using mouthwash but switched to salt water the last couple of days. I have a dentist appointment this Tuesday. Any ideas what I might be dealing with?

I have vowed to never touch tobacco again if God will only give me a second chance.....

 

[Frida]

Hi. Google torus mandibularis - it could be this. Good luck

 

[sharon]

Hi saturnthegiant,

I am sorry you are dealing with the fear of cancer right now. I am a big time hypochondriac in addition to a dentalphobe, so I can understand your fears.

But what I am not is a denstist or doctor so I don't know what you are dealing with. But it really sounds more like gingivitis than oral cancer, especially since you don't floss regularly. I don't think oral cancer presents as red, bleeding gums but more like a patch on the inside of the cheek.

I hope you are serious in giving up all forms of tobacco and I hope that goes easy for you. It's one of the best gifts you can give yourself and your loved ones.

Sharon