Elmsleigh Hub

November is Mouth Cancer Action Month, a charity campaign run by the Oral Health Foundation. The aim is to raise awareness of mouth cancer and make a difference by saving lives through early detection and prevention.

During November we want your support so that more people know about mouth cancer. This includes:

• Knowing how to spot mouth cancer early, and 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
    
    
• Understanding what is likely to cause mouth cancer and reduce your risk
  
  
• Acting quickly when you see something out of the ordinary by visiting your doctor or dentist.

Over the past year, 8337 people in the UK were diagnosed with mouth cancer. The more we know about mouth cancer, the better chance we have of beating it. This means knowing how to spot mouth cancer early and knowing where to go when we see something out of the ordinary. It also means reducing our risk by cutting down on the things that cause mouth cancer.

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 adopt a healthier lifestyle, be aware of the signs above, and maintain regular check-ups with your dentist and see your hygienist regularly.

If in doubt, get checked out!

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?

• Stop smoking, as this is the leading cause of mouth cancer
  
  
• Cut down on the amount of alcohol you drink; heavy drinkers and smokers are up to 35 times more at risk
  
  
• HPV, the human papillomavirus, is being linked to the growth of mouth cancer cases; ensuring boys and girls aged 12-13 are vaccinated will reduce the prevalence of HPV
  
  
• Eat a balanced, healthy diet full of fresh fruit and vegetables a day, which can also help protect against many other cancers
  
  
• Visit your dental team regularly, as often as they recommend.

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