Many people worry at some time in their life that they have a serious condition like cancer, and thankfully more often than not such concerns prove to be unfounded. However, if you have noticed unusual signs of symptoms in your mouth recently or if you have risk factors for oral cancer, you do want to be aware of what some of the mouth cancer signs are. First, before you explore mouth cancer signs, you should know that some people are at a greater risk for develop this type of cancer. People who are at a higher risk and who should be more vigilant in observing their mouth for mouth cancer signs are those who use tobacco products, those who drink alcohol, those who are exposed to the sun regularly for extended periods of time, and those who have a history of cancers of the head or neck. You do not have to have any of these risk factors to develop mouth cancer, but these factors can contribute to you developing the condition. Most early mouth cancer signs are visible on the tongue or on the interior of the mouth such as on the gum line or the inside of the cheeks. Signs to look for include patches or spots that are white, red, pink, or a mixture of these colors; loose teeth; gums that bleed regularly; mouth sores that don't heal; an earache; a lump in the neck; and pain or difficulty when swallowing. You should be aware that while oral cancer most often starts on the surface of the mouth and show visible mouth cancer signs,, it often does quickly spread into the lymp nodes. When cancer spreads into the lymph nodes, it becomes a more serious concern as it can easily spread to other areas of the body like the lungs, brain, blood, and more. Because of the ease and speed with which it may spread throughout your body, you will want to be vigilant for signs of mouth cancer and contact your doctor immediately if you do notice signs. Early detection and early treatment or critical with this type of cancer.