Oral cancer is a form of cancer that affects the lips, mouth or throat. Nowadays, a lot of people develop oral cancer because of poor lifestyle choices. People will often take their oral health for granted and will not pay attention to the early signs of this disease. As a result, their condition may become severe. To stop oral cancer in the early stages, one should undergo oral cancer examinations regularly, particularly if one is at high risk due to factors like consumption of tobacco, smoking, and so on. There are certain steps involved in oral cancer examinations to check for the early symptoms of this condition:

Extraoral examination:

• Face
  First, the doctor will examine the face during an oral cancer examination. They will check the symmetry of the face and look for any irregularities like swelling, asymmetry, discoloration, masses, or ulceration. The doctor will examine each and every section of the face, including the scalp.
• Lips
  The doctor will also examine the patient’s lips by checking its texture and color. They will perform this examination by opening the mouth and checking the symmetry of the lower lip.
• Gums
  Next, the doctor will check the condition of the gums by raising the upper and lower lips. They will also look at the color of the gums.
• Neck
  The doctor will examine the neck by positioning the individual at the level of their eyes. They will check the neck manually. They simultaneously check both sides of the neck to look for signs for lymph node enlargements.
• Eyes
  The doctor will also examine the eyes and look for any signs of swelling. Swelling in the eyes is one of the earliest signs of the tumor.
• Nose and ears
  The doctor will check for ulcerous and pigmented lesions in the nose and ears.
• Thyroid
  The doctor will check the thyroid gland by palpating the area of the thyroid gland to find it. After finding it, they will look for any masses or nodules in that region.

Intraoral cavity examination:

• Buccal mucosa
  For examining the buccal mucosa, the doctor will move it to some distance from the teeth to look for any irregularity. They will try to find irregularities like a change in texture or color, any swelling, or other visible changes.
• Tongue
  The doctor will check the tongue by moving it to the left and right to find any asymmetry or spasm. They will also look for swelling, masses, or ulcerations, all of which could be symptoms of oral cancer.
• The floor of the mouth
  This area of the mouth can be checked by opening the mouth and elevating the tongue. The submandibular glands and the submental area are the main centers for the development of oral cancer.
• Hard and soft palate
  The doctor will also examine the palate of the mouth for any abnormality.

The doctor will examine all of these areas during an oral cancer screening.