WE all know taking care of our teeth is good for your oral health.
But regularly looking in your mouth can also mean you spot warning signs of medical problems, like cancer.
Cases of mouth cancer have hit a record high in the UK
Having white patches on your tongue that wont come off is known as Leukoplakia, and this can be a sign of oral cancer.
“This are caused by chronic exposure to irritants such as smoking,” says NHS GP Dr Rachel Ward of Woodlands Medical Centre in Didcot.
“They are mostly benign but can be pre-cancerous and needs to be seen by your dentist or doctor,” Dr Rachel adds.
Cases of mouth cancer have hit a record high in the UK, new data revealed.
Rates of the illness have doubled in the last generation, with 8,864 cases being diagnosed last year.
Data from the Oral Health Foundation (OHF) shows that this is an increase of 34 per cent compared to ten years ago.
This figure has also doubled within the last generation and experts are now urging people to become aware of the deadly condition.
Around 3,034 people in the UK lost their life to mouth cancer last year – a rise of 20 per cent in the last five years.
Dr Nigel Carter OBE, Chief Executive of the OHF said while most cancers are on the decrease, cases of the illness continue to rise at an alarming rate.
“Traditional causes like smoking and drinking alcohol to excess are quickly being caught by emerging risk factors like the human papillomavirus (HPV).
“The stigma around mouth cancer has changed dramatically. It’s now a cancer that really can affect anybody.
“We have seen first-hand the devastating affect mouth cancer can have on a person’s life.
“It changes how somebody speaks, it makes eating and drinking more difficult, and often changes a person’s physical appearance,” he added.
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, you should also check the lips, gums, inside of the cheeks, as well as the roof of the mouth.
The experts said that in recent years, survival rates of the illness have barely improved.
The 4 other signs of mouth cancer you need to know
In the early stages the signs of mouth cancer can be subtle and painless.
The potential symptoms of mouth cancer are:
- A mouth ulcer that does not heal within three weeks.
- White or red patches in the mouth.
- Unusual lumps or swellings in the mouth, head or neck.
- Any persistent ‘hoarseness’ in the voice.
