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Mouth Cancer Action Month, run throughout November by the Oral Health Foundation, is the UK's biggest charity campaign for raising awareness of mouth cancer.

Over the past year, 8337 people in the UK were diagnosed with mouth cancer; the charity campaign aims to raise awareness and make a difference by saving lives through early detection and prevention.

With early diagnosis, the chances of surviving mouth cancer are nine out of ten; however, too many cases are not spotted sufficiently early. It is therefore essential to know how to spot mouth cancer early, by regularly checking for unusual changes in your mouth, such as :

• Ulcers that do not heal within three weeks
  
  
• Red-and-white patches in your mouth
  
  
• Unusual lumps or swellings in your mouth, head and neck

Early detection is crucial, so if you have noticed any of these signs or anything unusual in your mouth, please tell your dentist or doctor immediately.

Your dentist will check the inside of your mouth and your tongue, and will also look at your neck and underneath your jaw. Dentists will carry out this examination as part of a routine dental check up. Remember, your dental team can see parts of your mouth you cannot see easily yourself!

If mouth cancer is spotted early, the chances of a complete cure are good, and the smaller the area or ulcer, the better the chance of a cure. However, too many people come forward too late because they do not have regular mouth examinations, so it is vital these are maintained.

How can I make sure that my mouth stays healthy?

Although there are risk factors heavily linked to the disease, such as smoking and drinking, mouth cancer can affect anyone and can affect the lips, tongue, gums and cheek. So it is important to be aware of the signs above, maintain regular check-ups with your dentist and hygienist, and adopt a healthier lifestyle:

• Smoking tobacco increases your risk of developing mouth cancer by up to ten times, compared with never-smokers; this includes smoking cigarettes, pipes or cigars. Around two in every three (more than 60%) of mouth cancers are linked to smoking. There is also evidence that second-hand smoke at home or in the workplace may increase a person’s risk of mouth cancer. 
  
  
• Drinking alcohol to excess increases your risk of mouth cancer. Alcohol is linked to just under a third (30%) of all mouth cancers. Smoking and drinking together trebles a person's mouth cancer risk. UK guidelines recommend a maximum of 14 units of alcohol a week for both men and women.
  
  

• Many recent reports have linked mouth cancer to the human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is the major cause of cervical cancer and affects the skin that lines the moist areas of the body. It can be spread through sexual activity, and research suggests that it could soon rival smoking and drinking as one of the main causes of mouth cancer. Practicing safe sex and limiting the number of partners you have may help reduce your chances of contracting HPV. There are now HPV vaccines for both girls and boys. They were developed to fight cervical cancer, but it is likely that they will also help to reduce the rates of mouth cancer. These vaccines are given at age 12 to 13 before sexual activity starts.

• Around a third of mouth cancers are thought to be linked to an unhealthy diet and a lack of vitamins and minerals. It is recommended that you eat a healthy, balanced diet including lots of fruit and vegetables each day. Increasing evidence also suggests that omega 3, found in foods such as eggs and fish, can help lower your risk, as well as food high in fibre such as nuts, seeds, whole-wheat pasta and brown rice.
  
  
• Although we do not know why, there is a slight increase in risk of mouth cancer if you have a close relative diagnosed with the disease. Mouth cancer can also be more likely for those who carry certain inherited genes; links have been found for those with genetic conditions affecting the bone marrow, skin or fingernails.

Source: https://www.dentalhealth.org/therisks

We hope this has been helpful to know how to spot mouth cancer and to adopt a healthier lifestyle to minimise risk.

At Elmsleigh House our clinicians check for signs of mouth cancer at all routine check-ups and hygiene appointments, so it is important to see your dentist and hygienist regularly for your general health as well as your dental health!