Mouth Cancer Checks

Regular appointments allow your dentist to screen for mouth cancer

It is extremely important that you attend regular dental appointments to allow your dentist to provide mouth cancer screening. We will examine the soft tissues of your mouth such as the lips, tongue, inside the cheeks and throat, looking for anything unusual. We will also take a look at your medical history and provide an assessment of your individual mouth cancer risk. Advice will be offered whenever risks are high.

The early stages of mouth cancer can often be quite painless, so we put together a guide to some of the early indicators:

  • Red and/or white discoloration of the soft tissues of the mouth
  • Any soreness which does not heal within 14 days
  • Hoarseness which lasts for a prolonged period of time

More advanced indicators could be

  • A sensation that something is stuck in your throat
  • Numbness in the oral region
  • Difficulty in moving the jaw or tongue
  •  Difficulty in swallowing
  • A sore under a denture that, even after denture adjustment, still does not heal
  • A lump or thickening which develops in the mouth or on the neck

When found early, the mouth cancer five-year survival rate is much better, at more than 80%. On the other hand when found late unfortunately the mouth cancer five-year survival rate is much lower at around 30%.

The main risk factors for mouth cancer include:

  • Smoking
  • Excessive Alcohol Consumption
  • Low Intake Of Fruit And Vegetables
  • Excessive Exposure To The Sun
  • Human Papiloma Virus (Hpv)