Get Virtual Care
For Businesses
About Us
A member asked:
How to tell the difference between a canker sore and mouth cancer?
19 doctors weighed in across 4 answers
Go to dentist: Dentists are trained in this area and can help differentiate the two.
Answered 10/11/2018
5.9k views
Time: Canker sores will resolve over time while a mouth cancer will not.
Answered 4/12/2020
5.9k views
Nonhealing ulcers: Oral cancers can present as nonhealing ulcers that can be painful. Tobacco use (including smokeless) and alcohol use are risk factors. Patients usually present at over age 50. Canker sores, or aphthous ulcers are painful ulcers that can go away after 2 weeks to less than a month.
Answered 7/27/2016
5.9k views
Time and/or Biopsy: A canker sore wil go away in a short period of time (usually days). Oral cancer won't. Only definite way to know is with a biopsy.
Answered 10/11/2018
2.7k views
Related Questions
A member asked:
Can a persistent 1 year old tongue sore(painful like canker sore,but not white like canker sore) and that is not increasing in size be cancer?
A doctor has provided 1 answer
A member asked:
Tongue indentation(like cut)caused by canker sore year ago still didnt heal.cut has been for 1 year and painful like canker sore.is this cancer?
A doctor has provided 1 answer
A member asked:
I'm 18, I have pharyngitis, back of throat/tonsils feel picky/burn. I'm on antibiotic, 3rd day of if. And a canker sore on my cheek. Is this cancer?
A doctor has provided 1 answer
A member asked:
Burning r side tongue & big tastebuds bilateral 4weeks. Saw Dr all ok. B12, folate, ferritin normal. Trying Biotine mouthwash. Had stomach flu 3 days ago& cold sore. Now small bump where tongue burns. Nervous tongue cancer. Or probable virus-canker??
3 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
A member asked:
I had a cold a month ago and got this painful bump in the side of my tongue hurts like a cancker sore and it didnt go away what can it be im afraid its cancer?
2 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
People also searched for:
I have a sore inside my mouth, on my cheek and it feels likea canker sore. However, it doesn't resemble with any of the pictures that I have looked up. Could it be cancer?
3 days ago, my 3 mm-wide canker sore in the mouth closed up. However, I can still see a white line on the surface of my skin where it closed and the area is still red since then. Does this count as nonhealing sore that can be a sign of cancer?
Can mouth canker sore cause severe ear pain? I went to ent and have no fluid in ear or anything visible! Oral cancer?
Diagnosed with HPV and have a canker sore on the front of my mouth. Its not in the Back of throat like things say, should I be worried for oral cancer?
Why is my canker sore lasting so long? its small but so painful. it hurts to talk. on side of tongue. im fearing cancer. i cant sleep
Didn't find what you're looking for?
90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions or offer you advice, prescriptions, and more.
Ask your questionMore of what we treat
Download HealthTap
Video visit and message your doctor
