Should I be Concerned About Oral Cancer?

Minimising the risks with better care and regular monitoring in Burton on Trent.

Oral cancers are on the rise. Men especially are at risk, with twice as many men as women likely to suffer from the disease. With around ten thousand people a year dying from it in the UK, and many more having life changing treatment; whether you are male or female, it makes sense to minimise the risks.

Despite the seriousness of this problem, there are many simple ways in which patients of Mike Allen’s Dental Practice can help to avoid this disease by making just a few changes to their life and oral health habits.

Good quality oral care

The most obvious thing that you can do is to keep your mouth clean. This means brushing your teeth and gums well at least twice a day. Dental floss should also be used to clean between the teeth. Brushing the soft tissues of your mouth, including cheeks and tongue gently, will also help you to have good ‘whole mouth’ health.

Don’t smoke

One of the most significant things you can do to minimise the risk of mouth cancer is to stop smoking. This habit has no health benefits and a whole host of negative effects on your well being. Cigarettes are also now very expensive and a quick calculator check on how much you spend should help to encourage you to stop. Whilst we cannot actually recommend vaping as an alternative; if you have really struggled to stop using other methods, many people have found this to be one of the easiest ways. It should be noted that, although unlikely to have the same serious side effects as tobacco smoking, the long term effects of vaping are not yet known.

Cut down the ‘booze’

In moderation, alcohol will do little long term harm. If you are a regular drinker though, it is not only your liver which may suffer. Heavy alcohol consumption also increases the risk of contracting oral cancer. If you drink regularly, try to cut this down to a sensible limit.

HPV

The HPV virus is increasingly linked with the rise in oral cancer. Passed on largely through oral sex, the risk increases if you are sexually active with a number of partners. Whilst there are increasing calls from the dental profession for the HPV vaccination to be distributed to ‘at risk’ groups, this has not yet happened. If you are sexually active, then talking to your GP about having the vaccination as it may just end up saving your life.

Regular dental care

During your six monthly check up at Mike Allen’s Dental Practice, we not only examine your teeth and gums, but also the general health of your mouth. If we notice unusual signs, such as sore patches or lumps, we may refer you to your GP for further examination. This is a precautionary measure and the signs may well be unrelated to cancer. Like all cancers though, the earlier it is detected, the better the outcome is likely to be. For this reason, it is better to be safe than sorry.

If you live in Burton Upon Trent and have not had an oral examination for some time, doing so may not only save your teeth and gums, but possibly your life too. Please call Mike Allen’s local clinic today on 01283 845345.