India, July 10 -- Ignoring a persistent mouth ulcer or brushing off a loose tooth as a minor cavity could be a fatal mistake. Doctors warn that millions of people are inadvertently allowing oral cancer to progress to advanced, life-threatening stages because they mistake its early warning signs for everyday dental issues. Also read | Oncologist explains how even '1 drink a day' can slowly increase your risk of oral cancer

Oral cancer remains a public health crisis, particularly in India. "Every year, oral cancer takes the lives of millions of people in India," Dr Anand Mohan, consultant of surgical oncology at CK Birla Hospitals, Jaipur, said. "One of the biggest hurdles in early detection is that its symptoms overlap with dental issues....