I found a black spot on the bottom of my tounge, it is a perfect circle, and my best description is that it looks like a doughnut, you can see the pink in the middle. it does not hurt, and I feel fine otherwise. I am a smoker, and I guess I am worried it could be something serious such as cancer? Can anybody help??
2006-12-30 14:26:25 · 7 answers · asked by cjh 1 in Health ➔ Dental
Sorry, it is actually spelled, Tongue...my bad! Thanks for the answers!
2006-12-30 14:34:21 · update #1
There are a lot of things that can cause pigments of the soft tissue of the oral cavity.
1. Here's what cancer can look like:
a) red patch
b) white patch
c) red/white patch
- these patches usually have a firm border (where they meet the normal tissue) and can also have ulcerations in them.
2. if it is a type of oral melanoma it can look like a feckle in your mouth - like a flat brown spot.
Several things can cause pigmentations of the oral mucosa. Sometimes bacteria can cause it. Sometimes if you have had a recent filling, some of the filling material (if it is metal) can get into the gum and make it change color. Sometimes you can just have cells in your skin produce a blob of pigment (again like a freckle).
Since you smoke, I would advise you go to a dentist for an oral cancer screening and head and neck exam. People do really poorly when they have certain types of oral cancer because the treatment is usually radical surgery and radiation ... so if you predispose yourself to cancer by smoking or drinking you should get REGULAR checkups whether or not you have symptoms.
Sometimes cancer can go unnoticed by its carrier until it is too late to be treated effectively. Early detection is great. Not smoking or drinking alcohol on a regular basis is best (it makes you 26 times as likely to develop oral cancer as a non-smoker/non-drinker).
2006-12-30 15:22:28 · answer #1 · answered by r_smart2001 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As a rule of thumb, we don't cut anything off and look at it under a microscope unless it's been there for more than 7 days. If you have a dentist, go and see him/her about it. Things can be somewhat serious even if they are NOT cancer. If you do not have a dentist ( and EVERYONE who is 1 year old SHOULD have a dental "home") make sure it is not there in 1 week from the day you found it. If it is still there after 7 days, see a dentist A.S.A.P. I hope this helps and that it is gone by January 1, 2007. Happy New Year.
2006-12-30 15:26:42 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
hmmm...that's not a sign of cancer and anything serious (like aids) has white spots associated with it...i would just wait it out a few days and i'm sure it will go away...if not or if it does cause pain then you should see a doctor
2006-12-30 14:30:02 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
If I were you I would make a doctors appointment. You can never be too safe. Take care.
2006-12-30 14:29:14 · answer #4 · answered by Jules 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You need to go see your doctor
2006-12-30 14:28:25 · answer #5 · answered by rikki105 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
See a doctor. NOW.
2006-12-30 14:28:46 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
What exactly is a tounge?
2006-12-30 14:28:37 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋