Oral/Mouth Cancer Screening
Mouth cancer is far easier to treat when it’s caught early, and a screening is a quick, simple way to check. During your routine appointment, your dentist will gently examine your mouth, tongue, soft tissues and jaw for anything unusual. In the vast majority of cases there’s no cause for concern, and if we do spot something, we’ll guide you through the next steps.
What causes oral cancer?
âś“ Smoking (accounts for 25% of mouth cancer cases in the UK, according to Cancer Research UK).
âś“ Smoking and alcohol consumption. When mixed together, the substances have a negative synergistic impact, increasing their respective harmful effects.
âś“ Sun exposure (causing mouth cancer on the lip area).
âś“ HPV.
âś“ A diet lacking in nutrients and vitamins.
âś“ Patients who have previously had mouth cancer are more vulnerable to developing the disease again in the future.
How to spot the symptoms
âś“ Reducing your risk of developing oral cancer in its latter stages is knowing the type of symptoms to look for. Some of the common symptoms include:
âś“ Red and white patches on your oral soft tissues.
âś“ A newly husky voice.
âś“ Ulcers that are not healing after 2-3 weeks.
âś“ Changes to how your teeth bite together.
âś“ Lumps in the jaw.
How to prevent?
âś“ Never miss your dentist and hygienist check-ups. These are vital for ensuring (the often) subtle signs of mouth cancer are spotted as early on as possible.
âś“ Enjoy a diet with a variety of minerals and vitamins.
âś“ Reduce your alcohol intake to the RDA per week.
âś“ Give up tobacco products.
âś“ Use a lip balm containing SPF.
âś“ Be aware of the symptoms of mouth cancer and check your mouth over regularly.
What happens during your appointment
A mouth cancer screening appointment is a simple check over of your mouth by your dentist, who will gently feel the soft tissues in your mouth and the jaw area.
In the vast majority of cases, there is no cause for concern. If we do spot something we feel could benefit from further investigation, we will recommend that you visit your GP for further tests.