Mouth Cancer Awareness Month November

November is Mouth Cancer Awareness Month.

Around 8,300 people are diagnosed with mouth cancer each year in the UK, which is about 1 in every 50 cancers diagnosed.

Symptoms of mouth cancer
The symptoms of mouth cancer include:

  • mouth ulcers that are painful and do not heal within several weeks
  • unexplained, persistent lumps in the mouth or the neck that do not go away
  • unexplained loose teeth or sockets that do not heal after extractions
  • unexplained, persistent numbness or an odd feeling on the lip or tongue
  • sometimes, white or red patches on the lining of the mouth or tongue These can be early signs of cancer, so they should also be checked
  • changes in speech, such as a lisp

See a GP or dentist if these symptoms do not get better within 3 weeks, particularly if you drink or smoke.

Preventing mouth cancer

The  most effective ways of preventing mouth cancer from happening, or stopping it from coming back after successful treatment, are:

  • Don’t leave a mouth ulcer unattended for more than three weeks.
  • Don’t ignore any unusual lumps or swellings or red and white patches in your mouth.
  • Regularly check your own mouth, lips, cheeks, head and neck for anything out of the ordinary.
  • Not smoking or using tobacco in other ways, such as not chewing tobacco
  • Ensuring you do not drink more than the recommended weekly guideline for alcohol
  • Eating a healthy, balanced diet that includes fresh vegetables (particularly tomatoes), citrus fruits, olive oil and fish

It’s also important that you have regular dental check-ups. A dentist can often spot the early stages of mouth cancer.

Find out more about how to find an NHS dentist.

 

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