There is no national screening programme in the UK for mouth or oropharyngeal cancer because these cancers are relatively uncommon. With uncommon diseases, it is most cost effective to screen people who have an increased risk of developing them. But first we must be sure we know who is at higher risk of mouth cancer? People who both smoke and drink heavily are at higher risk of mouth and throat cancers.
What you can do?
You can do a couple of things to find early signs of mouth cancer.
- Have regular dental check ups, at least yearly – even if you have false teeth it is important to get the lining of your mouth checked
- Check inside your mouth with a small mirror for any changes, any lumps or ulcers which do not heal need to be checked.
Many dentists routinely check for mouth or oropharyngeal cancer. So they are often the first to spot these cancers in their patients. If the dentist suspects a cancer they can refer you to the hospital to see a specialist.
We are lucky at the Dental Spa to have an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon as part of our team we can refer anything suspect to him for his expert opinion. To Book an appointment to see Mr Sunil Bhatia please call 01743 343433.
Useful Link: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/type/mouth-cancer/about/screening-for-mouth-cancer