Mouth Cancer Screening

Mouth cancer screening is a preventive type of examination designed to detect mouth cancer, including during its very early stages.

What Causes Mouth Cancer?

• Smoking (accounts for 25% of mouth cancer cases in the UK, according to Cancer Research UK).
• Smoking and alcohol consumption. When mixed together, the substances have a negative synergistic impact, increasing their respective harmful effects.
• Sun exposure (causing mouth cancer on the lip area).
• HPV.
• A diet lacking in nutrients and vitamins.
• Patients who have previously had mouth cancer are more vulnerable to developing the disease again in the future.

Spotting the Symptoms of Mouth Cancer

• Reducing your risk of developing oral cancer in its latter stages is knowing the type of symptoms to look for. Some of the common symptoms include:
• Red and white patches on your oral soft tissues.
• A newly husky voice.
• Ulcers that are not healing after 2-3 weeks.
• Changes to how your teeth bite together.
• Lumps in the jaw.

Helping You on The Road to a Healthier Mouth

• Never miss your dentist and hygienist check-ups. These are vital for ensuring (the often) subtle signs of mouth cancer are spotted as early on as possible.
• Enjoy a diet with a variety of minerals and vitamins.
• Reduce your alcohol intake to the RDA per week.
• Give up tobacco products.
• Use a lip balm containing SPF.
• Be aware of the symptoms of mouth cancer and check your mouth over regularly.

What to expect

A mouth cancer screening appointment is a simple check over of your mouth by your dentist, who will gently feel the soft tissues in your mouth and the jaw area.
In the vast majority of cases, there is no cause for concern. If we do spot something we feel could benefit from further investigation, we will recommend that you visit your GP for further tests.

Book Your Mouth Cancer Screening with Us

Book your routine dentist appointment to have your mouth checked over for signs of oral cancer. If you spot anything that you feel doesn’t look quite right, please make an appointment with us right away rather than waiting until your next routine check-up.