Mouth cancer awareness

Additionally, deaths from mouth cancer surpassed 2,000 in 2011 for the first time. 

Coinciding with the news of these rocketing figures, the British Dental Health Foundation’s Mouth Cancer Action Month takes place in November and presents the perfect opportunity for dentists to raise the profile of this disease with patients.

Most dental professionals will not come across many cases of oral cancer in their career but, in view of these latest statistics, it is important to know which patients are most likely to be at risk, how to spot signs and how to respond appropriately.

The most significant contributory factors are smoking and heavy drinking, while the use of smokeless tobacco, chewing betel nut, and a poor diet can also increase the risk.

The Human papilloma Virus (HPV) is a pre-cursor for oral cancer and, currently, there is a vociferous campaign for the UK’s HPV vaccination programme (currently offered to girls only) to extend to all adolescent boys, too, in order to stem its rise in future generations.