Mouth Cancer Awareness : Reduce the Risk

Preventive Dental Care is what it says on the can.

The dental team assess the risk of you developing dental diseases, and then work with you to keep you healthy. This could be tooth decay, it could be gum infection, it could be tooth wear. All diseases.

As I said yesterday, another one of those diseases is in fact a group of diseases that we refer to as mouth cancer - affecting the tissues in and around the mouth. In November the dental profession are working to raise awareness of mouth cancer in the community.

Here's a list of the things that increase the risk of developing mouth cancer:

• Smoking. Tobacco causes most Oral cancers. 75% of oral cancer sufferers have used alcohol, tobacco or both.
• Alcohol Consumption. Heavy alcohol consumption increases the risk. Obviously, reduction is the name of the game, as with smoking
• HPV Infection. A viral infection caused by sexual contact, affects younger people.
• Sun. Especially on the lower lip - I have a friend who has recently had an operation to remove a cancerous lesion - he spends a lot of time out of doors. Use of sunscreens, hats, avoiding the midday sun (when we get it..) will help.
• Previous Oral cancer. Mouth cancer sufferers are more likely to get it again, especially if they continue to smoke...
• Diet. Some studies indicate that not eating enough fruit and vegetables increases the risk.
• Gender. Studies show that men are twice as likely to develop mouth cancer as women.
• Immune Suppression. People on drugs to stop their immune system rejected grafted organs are more likely to develop mouth cancer.
• Betel Nut Quid. Commonly chewed in Asian communities - a mix of nut, lime and betel leaf with some tobacco.

Its not all doom and gloom - the positive side is that we know a lot more about prevention and campaigns such as this one are raising awareness.

So when you fill in your medical update on arrival at your dental practice, or when your dentist is looking at your face and neck and getting you stick your tongue out, you'll hopefully understand a little more what it is that we all doing for you. We're quietly looking and assessing...

If you're concerned about mouth cancer or any of the issues raised, please get in touch - we'd be glad to help.

Mouth Cancer Awareness : Know the Signs

Each year in November dental practices throughout the UK try to raise public awareness of mouth cancer, and the time is with us once again to beat the drum.


Cancer can occur in any part of the mouth, the tongue and lips, throat, salivary glands, and any of the surrounding tissues and organs. 


These "Mouth Cancers" have a higher proportion of deaths per number of cases than breast cancer, cervical cancer or skin melanoma - and yet there is no formal national screening program.


Sadly of the in excess of 6000 cases a year diagnosed in the UK, in excess of 50% of patients don't make it - often because of late diagnosis. 


So, what can you do about it?


Know the signs - and my thanks to the Mouth Cancer Foundation for this information:


It is important to have a self-awareness and to perform regular self-examinations to help in the early identification of these symptoms: 

1. A sore or ulcer in the mouth that does not heal within three weeks

2. A lump or overgrowth of tissue anywhere in the mouth

3. A white or red patch on the gums, tongue, or lining of the mouth

4. Difficulty in swallowing

5. Difficulty in chewing or moving the jaw or tongue

6. Numbness of the tongue or other area of the mouth

7. A feeling that something is caught in the throat

8. A chronic sore throat or voice change (hoarseness) that persists more than six weeks, particularly smokers over 50 years old and heavy drinkers

9. Swelling of the jaw that causes dentures to fit poorly or become uncomfortable

10. Neck swelling present for more than three weeks

11. Unexplained tooth mobility persisting for  more than three weeks - see a dentist urgently

12. Persistent nasal (especially unilateral)l nasal obstruction, particularly associated with mucus (clear, purulent or bloody) discharge causing difficulty breathing through nose

13. Unexplained persistent earache