Did you know your dentist checks for signs of mouth cancer whenever you go in for an examination? It’s part of the standard routine. Your dentist is trained to be aware of mouth cancer signs and will examine the soft tissues of your mouth. The examination includes not just your gums, but also the inside of your cheeks, your lips and your tongue. If the dentist has any concern, they will refer you to a specialist for further investigation.
- Detailed information in a report on the state of mouth cancer in the UK (2019-2020) from The Oral Health Foundation and Denplan (Simply Health).
Your dentist’s routine visual screening can help identify suspicious looking clusters of cells early in their development. Only by noticing a potential problem is there a chance of receiving successful treatment.
But if you don’t go to the dentist, who else is likely to notice the signs of mouth cancer in time for it to be treated?
Today, on World Cancer Day, we urge people who have not been to the dentist in the last year to make an appointment.
You can also become aware of mouth cancer signs by checking yourself
We’ve heard a lot about self-checks for different types of cancer. The same advice is true for mouth cancer – get into the habit of making regular checks.
A simple home check can be done in less than a minute.
- Begin by looking at your head and neck in a mirror to check there are no lumps or swellings on just one side.
- Next feel along the front and sides of your neck for any unexpected bumps.
- Now look at your mouth. Work systematically around your lips, tongue, the roof and floor of your mouth and then the inside of your cheeks. You’re looking for any patches of red, white or darker skin, lesions or ulcers. Be sure to use your fingers and tongue to feel for bumps and lumps too.
- Read this article for more detailed information.
A summary of advice to help you be more aware from Mouth Cancer Action
- Regular visits to your dental team are so important. Attending appointments as often as they recommend makes it more likely that any problems will be caught as early as possible, including mouth cancer.
- Mouth cancer cases are on the rise, but awareness is dangerously low.
- The earlier a health professional identifies a problem, the easier it tends to be to tackle. Mouth cancer is no exception. The smaller the affected area, the better the chances are of a full recovery. If in doubt, get checked out!
Remember – if in doubt, check it out.
Further information to help be aware of mouth cancer signs:
As we remember our colleague, we are grateful for the dedicated work of palliative carers and charities.