Mouth Cancer. Dentists can provide a vital early warning system

Any diagnosis of cancer is traumatic, but when it is one of the more aggressive types such as mouth cancer, it can be utterly devastating. Mouth cancer can affect anyone of any age and the plain facts are that it can be life threatening or result in dramatic disfigurement for life.An acknowledged fact is that the earlier a cancer is spotted the better the prognosis and as far as mouth cancer is concerned the person most likely to spot very early signs is your dentist.At the moment medical science does not have a clear definition as to why anyone should develop mouth cancer, but what is known is that any of the following can have a significant bearing:

• Poor hygiene of the mouth
• An excessive mix of alcohol and tobacco
• Chewing tobacco
• Excessive exposure to the sun
• The Human Papaloma Virus (HPV)
• Or it could be linked to a person’s genetic background

The only accepted way to ensure that signs of the disease are spotted at the earliest stage is to undergo regular screening. Which is where your dentist comes in. An early diagnosis means treatment is easier and generally has a far greater chance of being successful. It usually ensures that there is less disfigurement as a result of treatment.As part of every routine dental inspection at Carisbrook Dental we include a vigorous examination for signs of mouth cancer. This includes checking the outside of the neck for lumps and also examining the inner mouth including the gums, cheeks, palate, tongue and lips. If we do spot any signs, no matter how insignificant they may appear, we can fast-track our patient to a local specialist mouth cancer centre.It is in every person’s interests to ensure that they undergo these frequent checks and so we recommend that you see your dentist on a regular basis, and if you are worried that you may already have signs of mouth cancer then book an appointment without delay.If you do not have a regular dentist then why not contact us and we will see you without delay.In the meantime why not adopt this lifestyle routine. It might not prevent you getting mouth cancer … but it will definitely help.

• See your dentist regularly
• Stop smoking
• Do not over-indulge in alcohol
• Stick to a healthy balanced diet
• Ensure you look after your teeth and gums to maintain a healthy mouth