Don’t Ignore Mouth Cancer Risks

Our daily habits play a large part in increasing or decreasing our risk of oral cancer

When we brush and clean our teeth in the morning and at night, most of us do so in the hope of maintaining a healthy set of teeth and gums. Memories of toothache from the past often act as an encouragement not to forget to do this. Our teeth and gums are very important of course, and no one is disputing that fact. There is another good reason for keeping our mouth clean and for generally looking after it though and that is to help avoid the risk of oral cancer.

This is a growing problem in the UK and one perhaps that too few people are really aware of. Oral health checks that we carry out at Mike Allen’s Dental Practice when you come for your six monthly check up also include monitoring the soft tissues of the mouth for any possible indications of this problem.

What is oral cancer?

Oral cancer is when tumours form in the soft tissues of your mouth. This can include the lips, gums, roof of the mouth, cheeks, tongue and even the throat. Left untreated, these can grow and spread, making them much harder to treat and generally leading to a worse outcome. Like most forms of cancer, the sooner they are detected and you can receive the appropriate treatment, the better the outcome is likely to be.

How will I know if I have it?

As mentioned earlier, a regular check up at our Burton upon Trent dental practice is one of the best ways that you can have your general oral cavity checked. We are not doctors though, and it is important to state this. We can’t tell if you have oral cancer. What we can do is detect unusual signs and symptoms that we feel should be looked at by someone with more professional expertise in this area than we do. If we notice anything unusual, such as the possible symptoms listed below, we will refer you to your GP for further investigation. This is a purely precautionary measure and in most cases, it is likely that it is something else, but it is better to be sure so that any treatment can be started as soon as possible if needed.

Signs that we may notice, or if you notice yourself, you should contact us for an appointment include the following:

• Mouth sores that won’t heal
• Difficulty or discomfort when swallowing
• Growths or unusual bumps in the soft tissues of the mouth
• Red or white patches anywhere in the oral cavity
• General mouth pain, and sometimes ear pain too

Some issues that you might think are problems with your teeth, such as loose or wobbly teeth can also be symptoms of mouth cancer. Whatever the cause, you should contact us so that we can examine them, should problems occur with your teeth or gums.

What causes oral cancer?

Poor general oral health can increase the risk of mouth cancer, but there are two leading causes which create the main risks. Both are preventable with a change in lifestyle.

Smoking

Despite the fact that a lot of people have now quit smoking, this still appears to be the main cause of oral cancer. It should probably come as no surprise that the irritants and carcinogens in cigarette smoke make this the number one risk. The nicotine in cigarette smoke also narrows the tiny blood vessels in the mouth that allow blood to flow and heal any minor injuries that occur. Stopping smoking will greatly reduce your risk of oral cancer and is yet one more reason to kick this dangerous habit for good.

It should be noted that all forms of tobacco products, including chewing tobacco, can increase this risk. Excess or regular alcohol consumption can have a similar result too.

HPV

HPV is one of the most common sexually transmitted viruses. Although in most cases, it won’t lead to cancer, the fact is that it can and precautions should be taken to avoid this. These precautions include practicing safer sex and in particular, keeping the number of sexual partners to a sensible level. The more sexual partners you have, the higher the risk of catching this virus. Both of these significant risks are within your control and there are many help groups and other resources which can help you with these and consequently help avoid the associated risks.

Can we help?

Yes we can. As mentioned before, making sure that you have regular oral health checks every six months is a good way to ensure that any problems that do occur are detected at an early stage, usually leading to a better outcome. Dental treatment to maintain healthy teeth and gums, and professional regular cleaning by the hygienist at our Burton clinic are simple but effective things that you can do to ensure that you have as healthy a mouth as possible.

Make sure that you remain oral cancer free by following the steps above and making an appointment to see a dentist at Mike Allen’s Dental Practice every six months by calling us on 01283 845345.