During Mouth Cancer Awareness Month we at SpaDental are keen to share information that is key about the risks our lifestyles can bring.
Tobacco
We all know now that smoking is bad for our health and is linked to cancer, and mouth cancer is one of the dangers we need to be aware of.
Around one in five people in the UK smoke, resulting in roughly two in every three mouth cancer cases.
Smokers are three times more likely than non-smokers to develop mouth cancer and seven times more likely to be diagnosed with throat cancer. And passive smoking has even been linked to mouth cancer cases.
There is a new hidden danger trending. Users are not always aware that there is twice as much nicotine in smokeless tobacco as in a normal cigarette. And one can of chewing tobacco can release as much nicotine into your body as sixty cigarettes!
It’s never too soon to stop smoking!
Diet
Up to half of all mouth cancers are partly due to poor diet.
A healthy diet will not only keep your body fit but also helps to reduce the risk of developing this disease.
The risk of mouth cancer risk is lower in people with the highest intake of the following foods:
- Fruit
- Vegetables
- Vitamin C and calcium supplements
Alcohol
Drinking alcohol to excess is another major risk factor of mouth cancer, associated with around a third of cases diagnosed.
The occasional glass of wine is considered much better than drinking the whole bottle. Moderation is the key!
We will be posting more about how to reduce alcohol intake, and the health advantages.
HPV – Human Papillomavirus
Sexual contact is now considered a major new risk factor in the spread of HPV infection which can lead to developing mouth cancer.
Limiting the number of partners and practising safe sex could help lower your risk. If you are worried or concerned you should contact your GP.
Your dentist will check your mouth at every visit so it is important to attend regularly to reduce the risk of mouth cancer developing.
In the UK there is an HPV vaccination programme through schools for girls, but mouth cancer is not gender specific. It’s important for boys to be aware of the risks too.
If you have any concerns you should contact your local practice to book an appointment: Contact Us