Rates of mouth cancer are predicted to rise as people struggle to be seen by dentists who spot the disease. The disease killed over 3,000 people in 2021 – up 46% from a decade ago, according to the latest figures from the Oral Health Foundation.
Lack of NHS dentists raises concerns
The number of dentists working in the NHS in England has dipped to the lowest since 2015. Michelle Vickers, CEO of the Head and Neck Foundation, has called the lack of NHS dentists a "catastrophe waiting to happen." She emphasizes that dentists are crucial in the front-line fight against oral cancers and every dental check-up should include a mouth screen for the signs of cancer. Vickers blames the situation on the inadequate funding of NHS dentistry by successive UK governments.
Access crisis could cost lives
Eddie Crouch, chair of the British Dental Association, warns that the access crisis faced by millions of people will inevitably cost lives. Late detection of mouth cancer significantly reduces chances of survival. Crouch stresses that mouth cancer causes more deaths than car accidents.
Early detection is key
Nine in ten people will survive oral cancer if it is caught early, but this drops to 50% when people are diagnosed late. Head and neck cancers are the eighth most common cancer in the UK. Most cases are linked to smoking and alcohol misuse, but the rise of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection through oral sex has also been associated with the increase. Poor oral health may also be a precursor for the disease.
Recognizing the signs of mouth cancer
Mouth cancer can appear as a mouth ulcer that does not heal, as well as red or white patches in the mouth, or unusual lumps or swellings in the mouth, head, or neck. Research shows that one-in-three mouth cancers are found on the tongue and almost one-in-four are discovered on the tonsil. When keeping an eye out for the illness, it is important to check the lips, gums, inside of the cheeks, as well as the roof of the mouth.
Decline in NHS dentists
Recent data from The British Dental Association reveals a decline in the number of dentists carrying out NHS treatments. In 2022/23, there were 23,577 dentists performing NHS treatments, down from 24,272 the previous year. This is the lowest number since 2014/15, apart from during the Covid pandemic.
