In 2013, Mouth Cancer Action the British Dental Health Foundation estimated that poor oral health cost the UK economy more than £36m due to people taking time off work because of dental problems.
It is estimated that over the next decade around 60,000 people in the UK will be diagnosed with mouth cancer. It claims more lives than testicular and cervical cancer combined, yet awareness of the disease’s existence remains critically low.
Kirsty Jagielko, head of product management at Cigna UK HealthCare Benefits, said: “Cigna UK HealthCare Benefits is proud to support the British Dental Health Foundation. They deliver exceptional education and support services to improve oral health in the UK and around the world. As a provider of employer arranged dental plans, we know that good oral health encourages a healthy workforce. And we commend the British Dental Health Foundation’s achievements to date.”
Chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, Nigel Carter, thanked Cigna UK for their donation and explained why it could be crucial to saving someone’s life.
Carter says: “On behalf of the British Dental Health Foundation, I would like to thank Cigna UK for their extremely generous donation.
“Our aim is to educate the general public about the signs and symptoms of mouth cancer as well as the risk factors associated with the disease. Tobacco use, drinking alcohol to excess, poor diet and the human papillomavirus (HPV), often transmitted via oral sex, increase your risk significantly.
“With the help of Cigna UK’s donation, we will be able to continue our work and raise awareness of mouth cancer, particularly the signs and symptoms. If the disease is caught early, patients often have a 90 per cent chance of survival. Without early detection, this figure plummets to as low as 50 per cent.
“That is why we will continue to educate the general public. Look out for ulcers that do not heal within three weeks, unusual lumps and swellings and red and white patches in the mouth. Our advice is simple – if in doubt, get checked out.”