IT’S an alarming statistic. More people than ever are being diagnosed with oral cancer.
Almost 10,000 people were diagnosed in last year – an increase of 37 per cent in just a decade and more than double the number recorded a generation ago.
Dentist Dr Safa Al-Naher says early detection and awareness of oral cancer is keyCredit: Dr Safa Al-Naher
Earlier this week, landmark “likely” cause, with scientists blaming their nicotine content.
Experts have long warned that we aren’t checking our mouths enough for oral cancer and cases may be falling under the radar.
Surveys suggest just one in ten Brits are performing monthly oral cancer checks recommended by GPs.
But, the early signs can also be harder to spot and easily mistaken for other conditions.
And the British Dental Association (BDA), too, has suggested that opportunities to spot the cancer at an early stage were being missed due to people not seeing a dentist regularly.
Yet, your dentist can spot signs before you’ve even opened your mouth.
They are trained to routinely screen for signs of oral cancer during regular check-ups.
Oral cancer, also known as mouth cancer, develops in the oral cavity, which includes the lips, tongue, gums, and the lining of the mouth.
Now, Dr Safa Al-Naher, Founder and Principal Dentist at Serene by Dr Safa in Knightsbridge, London, has highlighted the importance of early detection and awareness.
She looks for five key signs of mouth cancer during a routine check-up.
- A lump in your mouth
- A mouth ulcer that lasts more than three weeks and isn’t healing
- Unexplained bleeding in your mouth
- Red, or red and white patches in your mouth
- Loose teeth or dentures that no longer fit you properly
But not all signs are evident by looking inside your mouth.
A lump or sore on your lip that doesn’t go away after a couple of weeks is a sign, too.
Otherwise, a lump in your neck or enlarged lymph nodes in the area are also possible symptoms.
But Dr Safa says there are two main symptoms that can indicate oral cancer even before you say ‘ahh!’
“These are ,” she said.
“You may sound hoarse or quieter, or you may slur your words.
“And pain in your ear. This can be caused by damage to a nerve near your tongue.”
Oral cancer can be deadly, especially if detected late.
But early detection and treatment significantly improve survival rates.
Biggest oral problem
One of the biggest risk factors for developing mouth cancer is tobacco use.
In recent years, more smokers have been switching to to ditch the habit with studies showing can be a less harmful alternative.
But Dr Safa revealed some of the most significant oral problems she’s seeing are caused by vapes.
She said: “We’re seeing all sorts of weird and wonderful patches in the mouth and on the tongue.
“It is not easy to diagnose why patches are occurring in the mouth. We generally have to rely on taking a medical and those with patches of this nature usually vape.
“The patches are brown or yellow, and similar to those in people who smoke cigarettes.
“Also, there is often difficulty in mouth healing after extractions with people who vape.
“And they also cause .”
How to check for oral cancer yourself
According to Dr Natasha Fernando, a and Medical Director at Medichecks, conducting a monthly oral cancer check yourself is also simpler than you might think.
It’s important to check your face, neck, lips, gums, cheeks, tongue and floor and roof of the mouth.
“All you need is a mirror and good light source and clean hands so the bathroom is the ideal place to conduct this check,” she says.
“Do this once a month, and just a two minute self-examination could save your life.
“Look at the whole face, inspect your skin, cover your neck muscles and keep an eye out for any swelling.”
She adds:“Feel inside your mouth and look for any sores or changes in colour, examining your gums and feeling around for anything unusual.
“If you are worried about anything, contact your dentist or doctor.”
You can also look out for these signs:
- A that you’ve had for a long time, and doesn’t seem to be getting better
- Difficulty or pain when chewing or swallowing
- Difficulty moving your jaw
- Numbness of your lip or another part of your mouth
Dr Safa also warns to be wary of hot drinksCredit: Getty
Be cautious of hot drinks
Drinking is another risk factor for mouth cancer.
But Dr Safa also warns to be wary of hot drinks.
She said: “Drinking hot drinks potentially increases cancer risk if they’re very hot and you have a habit of drinking scalding hot drinks.
“If the burn is not allowed to heal, it causes trauma.
“Anything that’s not allowed to heal can develop into something a little bit more sinister.”
A recent study also found .
Bleeding gums aren’t always a sign of cancer…
While can be a sign of cancer, particularly or gum cancer, they’re very often down to gum disease, Dr Safa said.
The good is, gum disease can be stopped in its tracks.
So what should we do if we notice that our gums are bleeding?
There are five important steps Dr Safa recommends you should take:
1. Brush twice a day for two minutes with a fluoride toothpaste
Effective tooth brushing is the first thing in Dr Safa’s top tips list for a reason.
She said: “Brushing our twice a day for two minutes with a fluoride toothpaste is vital for gum and also helps protect against other tooth decay.
“The best results are achieved if you brush last thing at night and first thing in the morning – ideally before you eat breakfast – using an electric toothbrush.”
The three most effective ways to prevent mouth cancer
It’s not always clear what causes mouth cancer, but you may be more likely to get the disease if:
- You smoke or chew tobacco, betel nut or paan
- You drink a lot of alcohol
- You have leukoplakia – white or grey patches in your gums
- You’ve been exposed to a lot of sunlight or sunbeds, which can cause skin cancer affecting the lips
- You’ve had cancer before
- You have a weakened immune system, for example, you have HIV or AIDS, or take immunosuppressant medicine
Genes changes and having some types of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in your mouth have also been linked to mouth cancer.
Doing the following three things can help lower your risk:
- Not smoking
- Keeping to the recommended limits for alcohol consumption
- Eating a ‘’, with plenty of fresh vegetables (particularly tomatoes), citrus fruits, olive oil and fish (read more about healthy eating)
It’s also important that you have regular dental check-ups because dentists can often spot the early stages of mouth cancer.
Source:
2. Start using interdental brushes or dental floss
Make this the second step in your daily oral routine, said Dr Safa.
She explained: “This is because a toothbrush cannot reach between the like interdental brushes or floss can.
“It’s important to get into these areas which a toothbrush cannot reach, otherwise pockets of plaque may build up, potentially causing problems for our gums.
“When we first start using it is not uncommon for our gums to bleed.
“If this happens, it is important to persist and keep going.
“After a week or two the bleeding should stop.
“I am often asked how many teeth I should floss between – and I reply, only the teeth you want to keep!”
3. Use a mouthwash
Using a is beneficial for oral health as it helps to clear our mouth of debris, said Dr Safa.
She added: “It also helps prevent plaque build-up on our gums, in-between our teeth, and on the surface of our teeth in between brushing.
“It can also help to freshen our breath by killing .
“It’s important when considering a mouthwash to choose one containing fluoride to help give the mouth extra protection throughout the day.”
4. Visit the dentist and/or dental hygienist
If you have bleeding gums it’s a good idea to contact your dentist or dental hygienist, especially if you haven’t seen yours for over a year, said Dr Safa.
She explained: “We may want to see you more frequently, for example every three to six months, if there are signs of gum disease.
“We can give our advice on cleaning techniques and remove any tartar build-up which may develop faster or in larger quantities if you are not quite removing plaque efficiently at home.
“If you are pregnant, you may be more prone to bleeding gums which is why your dental treatment is free during your and it may prevent your baby being born early or underweight.”
5. Look at your diet and lifestyle
increases the risk of gum disease so it’s a good idea for both your oral health and overall health to quit.
This is because causes a lack of oxygen in the bloodstream,
so the infected gums don’t get the chance to heal, said Dr Safa.
She added: “It’s also a good idea to keep your consumption in check as it can also affect the health of the mouth.
“Adopting a healthy lifestyle is also important in order for our mouth to function properly.
“A diet rich in fresh fruit and vegetables can help us to prevent gum disease.
“Watch out though as processed foods with ‘no added sugar’ don’t mean that they are sugar-free, it just indicates that no extra sugar has been added, but does not include the presence of naturally-occurring sugars.
“You may want to avoid dried fruit, for example, as not only are they very high in natural sugars, but they cling to the teeth like glue!”
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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