The UK’s leading oral health charity is calling for regular mouth cancer examinations after a new study estimated that early detection could save 40,000 lives worldwide.

The British Dental Health Foundation was speaking following the publication of a new study by French-based ‘International Agency for Research on Cancer’ in clinical research journal, The Lancet.
In a large-scale control group study, health-care workers carefully examined themouths of approximately 170,000 people in India for signs of malignancy. These screenings led to an increase in the number of early detections, bringing the death rate down by more than a third.
Due to ethnic tobacco chewing habits, mouth cancer has a high prevalence in India, but the number of new cases in the UK is increasing faster than any other cancer.

Now the Foundation, co-ordinators of Mouth Cancer Awareness Week (November 13-19), is calling for health professionals and members of the public in the UK to take note of the research, and to ensure regular check ups for mouth cancer.

Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, commented: “Hopefully this study will really bring the message home about how important early detection of mouth cancer is.
“It is clear that we have to do more to tackle this condition. The number of mouth cancer cases is increasing faster than any other cancer. If we can curb this trend and save 40,000 lives simply through regular screenings then it simply has to be done!”

The first sign of mouth cancer is often an ulcer that doesn’t heal or a red or white patch in the mouth. Many people choose to ignore these symptoms due to lack of awareness.

Smoking, drinking and poor diet are the main risk factors for mouth cancer and people who smoke and drink at the same time are up to 30 times more likely to develop the condition. However, with 25 percent of sufferers presenting none ofthe risk factors regular screenings are still very important.

Dr Carter added: “With early detection increasing survival chances by around 50 percent the importance of regular screenings cannot be underestimated.

“The condition is now affecting more women and younger people than ever too, so if you are a smoker, non-smoker, young or old, you still need to keep an eye on your mouth. If you notice any changes get it checked by a dentist - it could save your life!”

Mouth Cancer Awareness Week is co-ordinated by the British Dental Health Foundation, supported by Denplan, and backed by a wide range of leading national health organisations. These include Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), British Dental Association, British Association of Head and Neck Oncologists, British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, Cancer Research UK, the health departments of the four UK countries, GKT, Pharmacy Health Link, QUIT and Scope.