Did you know that oral cancer has become much more prevalent in the UK in the last decade? Oral cancer kills more people than testicular and cervical cancer combined, but many people are still unware of the symptoms and risk factors, and this means that many cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage. If you’re keen to learn more about oral cancer or you’d like to find out about signs to look out for, here are 3 ways to check for oral cancer:

1. Routine dental visits: when you go and see your dentist for a routine check-up, they will carry out visual examinations, which enable them to spot potential early warning signs of oral cancer. Symptoms dentists look for during a routine appointment include swelling and lumps in the mouth, red or white patches and lesions and ulcers that heal very slowly. This check is painless, and you may never have even noticed that your dentist is looking for potential signs and symptoms.
2. Oral cancer screening: at Harley Street Dental Studio, we offer oral cancer screening. We use the latest technology to look into the mouth and identify changes to the soft tissue that may not yet be visible to the human eye. The earlier oral cancer is diagnosed, the higher the chances of successful treatment, so screening really can save lives.
3. Being mouth aware: one of the main reasons survival rates have stalled in the UK is the stage of diagnosis. As public awareness of oral cancer is relatively low, many patients are diagnosed when cancer has spread and symptoms are advanced. If you’re aware of the warning signs, you can act quickly if you’re worried that something is wrong. Symptoms to keep an eye out for include slow-healing ulcers, difficulty swallowing, unexplained oral pain, lumps and swelling and red or white patches in the mouth.

If you have questions about oral cancer, or you’d like to learn more, don’t hesitate to get in touch.