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Mouth Cancer Vs Mouth Ulcer: What's the Difference?

Understand the key differences between mouth cancer and ulcers, from appearance and pain to healing time and symptoms, to stay informed about your oral health.

  • 23 Apr 2025
  • 3 min read
  • 5 views

The distinction between mouth cancer vs mouth ulcer is often utopian to a lot of people. This is primarily because the differences seem to be overlapping often. Both the signs and healing for mouth cancer and mouth ulcers are different.

Differences Between Mouth Ulcers and Oral Cancer

The most common signs that you should look out for mouth ulcer vs mouth cancer are:

Appearance

The mouth ulcers have a very distinct appearance. The ulcers are usually round or oval in structure, and there are unique borders around them. However, oral cancers can have varying bits of edges. They can sometimes be multi-coloured as well.

Physical Pain

The extent of pain in oral cancer vs. ulcers also varies. Ulcers tend to be extremely painful at the onset. It gets worse if there is irritation due to touching or food or drink consumption. However, the irregularities in oral cancer are often pain-free, but the lumps can get extremely painful as the disease continues to progress.

Healing

It is difficult to pinpoint exactly the duration required for the healing of oral cancer and ulcers. However, the time required for oral ulcers varies between one and two weeks. Proper treatment can improve the outcome. For oral cancers, healing will never happen naturally, and it will only get worse with time.

Ancillary Symptoms

Bleeding near the mouth and numbness of the mouth can be some of the associated symptoms. Even swelling of the throat is a common implication. However, these sores often heal within a couple of weeks for oral ulcers. In the case of oral cancers, the sores do not heal and turn into lumps with excruciating pain. This is one of the classic differences between mouth cancer and ulcer.

Conclusion

The treatment of oral ulcer vs mouth cancer entirely depends on accurate diagnosis. Always visit a healthcare professional for detailed insight. Health insurance plan will cover the costs associated with the tests and treatment. 


 

Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for educational purposes only. Please consult a medical or nutrition professional before making any significant changes in your daily diet. Relying on any information provided in this blog is solely at your own risk, and ICICI Lombard is not responsible for any impact or consequences resulting from the use of the information shared. 

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