Imagine you get this weird little sore on your tongue that just won't go away. It's not super painful, just kind of annoying, and after a couple weeks it's still there. Would you shrug it off or go get it checked? I always worry I’m being dramatic, but then I read about people missing early signs of oral cancer because they thought it was "just a canker sore." How do you decide when to actually get concerned?
I always worry I’m being dramatic, but then I read about people missing early signs of oral cancer because they thought it was "just a canker sore."
I get what you mean about feeling dramatic—my family teases me for being a “worst case scenario” thinker, but honestly, I’d rather be safe than sorry. I had a spot on my cheek last year that just wouldn’t go away. It wasn’t painful either, more like a tiny patch that felt weird when I ran my tongue over it. I left it for maybe three weeks thinking it was nothing, but then the anxiety got to me and I finally went in.
My dentist said it was probably just some irritation from biting my cheek in my sleep (who knew?), but he took it seriously and checked it out properly. The relief after that appointment was huge. For me, if something’s still hanging around after two weeks, especially if it’s not getting better or looks odd, I’d rather have someone take a look. Not saying everyone needs to rush in for every little thing, but peace of mind is worth it for me... especially since things can sneak up on you as you get older.
For me, if something’s still hanging around after two weeks, especially if it’s not getting better or looks odd, I’d rather have someone take a look.
That two-week rule is pretty much my approach too. I’ve had weird patches or bumps pop up and most of the time it’s nothing, but I always feel better after getting it checked. I’m curious—has anyone ever had something turn out to be more serious than they thought? Or is it usually just random irritation or biting? Sometimes I wonder if I’m overthinking every tiny thing, but then again, our mouths are so easy to ignore until something feels really off...
That’s pretty much how I do it too—if something feels weird and sticks around, I start overthinking it like it’s my new hobby. I’ve had random sore spots pop up since I got braces, and half the time it’s just where a bracket rubbed or I accidentally chomped myself in my sleep. But there was one time I ignored a spot for ages, thinking it was just from eating chips, and it turned out to be an ulcer that needed medicated rinse. Not super serious, but definitely more annoying than I expected.
Honestly, our mouths go through a lot, especially with orthodontic stuff—wires shifting, elastics snapping, all that jazz. It gets hard to tell what’s “normal” irritation and what’s worth worrying about. I always feel a bit ridiculous making an appointment for something tiny, but then again, peace of mind is worth it. Plus, my ortho is used to my “is this normal?” questions at this point... pretty sure I’m on their frequent flyer list.
I totally relate to the “is this normal?” anxiety. I’ve only recently started paying attention to weird mouth stuff, but now every tiny bump has me spiraling. I always worry about wasting the dentist’s time, but honestly, I’d rather feel a little silly than ignore something important. My dentist once told me they’d much rather check something minor than have someone wait until it’s a big deal. Still, I wish it was easier to tell the difference between harmless and worth-a-visit… the uncertainty is the worst part for me.
