When it comes to cancer we all have to be extremely vigilant, checking the various parts of the body that are at high risk. With oral cancer, a particularly virulent form of the disease, it is very important that you have your mouth examined by a dentist every six months. This can be done at the same time as your dental check up and your London dentist will be especially trained to spot the signs of oral cancer.

There are several key risk areas meaning that people are more likely to suffer from oral cancer. Males are more likely to suffer from the condition than females, especially males who are over the age of forty. Smoking and drinking alcohol also increase the chances of developing cancer, especially when used in tandem. However, it must be pointed out that 25 per cent of sufferers are in none of the high-risk areas so it is always wise to have your mouth checked.

The symptoms of oral cancer include small sore patches in the mouth. These usually appear on the soft tissue lining of the mouth and can be red or white in colour. These small patches do not clear up naturally so if you have any suspicious marks then you need to contact a dentist immediately.

Other symptoms include unexplained weight loss or bleeding in the mouth or pain in the head or jaw. Oral cancer can be treated effectively in 80 per cent of cases if the disease is caught in sufficient time. If left or not treated quickly, oral cancer can be extremely dangerous and almost certainly fatal. With cancer being one of the biggest killers in the UK, it is always wise to give yourself the best chance of beating it.

One of the most serious conditions that can affect the oral cavity is oral cancer. This is a disease that can be fatal if not caught and treated early enough, that affects thousands of people in the UK each year. One of the best ways to beat oral cancer is to make sure you keep up regular check up appointments at your dentist. Dentists are trained to examine for oral cancer as part of a routine check up and could be instrumental in an early diagnosis that could save your life.

Oral cancer usually manifests itself as small red or white patches on the lining of the mouth, gums, lips or throat. These small patches are rough and sore and do not disappear after a week or so unlike a mouth ulcer. They are very sensitive to hot and cold temperatures so could make eating and drinking quite difficult. The other symptoms of oral cancer include unexplained bleeding in the mouth, a significant weight loss without any change to diet or exercise and pain in the head, neck and shoulders.

If you are demonstrating any of these symptoms it is crucial that you make an appointment with a London dentist as soon as possible. They will be able to perform an examination and brush biopsy on any suspicious areas. They will also be able to refer you to a specialist for immediate treatment should the results be concerning.

There are a number of high risk factors for oral cancer such as your age and sex. Being male and over forty increases your chances of contracting the disease, as do lifestyle choices such as smoking and an unhealthy diet. Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol also increases the risks of cancer. However, even people with none of the risk factors are still capable of getting oral cancer so you can never afford to be complacent.

Cancer is usually something we don’t associate with the mouth, but Oral Cancer, as it’s known, is on the rise and it is so easy to avoid says a London dentist. Smoking is an obvious cause as is chewing tobacco, which is still popular in many countries. The lips can get cancer as well and one the causes here is exposure to the sun, we tend to think of skin cancer being caused by too much sun, but Oral Cancer is also a victim. Oral Cancer can affect the lips, gums, tongue and throat, the signs to look out for are reddish lumps that bleed and don`t heal up. There is a difference between an ulcer and a tumour in the mouth, so if you get a lump that doesn`t look right see your doctor straight away. Oral Cancers can be cured, that`s the good news, the bad news is that many of us fail to get treatment at an early stage. Leaving a suspect lump won`t make it go away, it isn`t like a drunk that is annoying you at a party, if you ignore it I guarantee it won`t move on. Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy has moved on a long way, and you may get one or both treatments for your Oral Cancer, sometimes a chemo tablet will suffice. Good oral hygiene will also help to keep cancer at bay in your mouth, flossing will keep acid and bacterium under control, these cause the gums to become infected and bacterium can leak into the blood system. There has recently been reports that there is a link between heart disease, diabetes and cancer that comes from infections originating in the oral area. Just being a little bit more vigilant and reporting those infections and lumps to our dentist or doctor, will go a long way to keeping Oral Cancer at bay.

Oral cancer is a common and virulent form of the disease that occurs in any part of the mouth including the lips, tongue, lining and throat. If diagnosed in the early stages it is highly treatable but the longer it is left to develop without treatment the greater the risk of it being fatal becomes.

There are several risk factors for oral cancer. Firstly, being male makes you more likely to contract the condition, as does being over 50 years of age. Smoking, or using any kind of tobacco product also makes you much more likely to suffer from the disease. In studies of oral cancer patients, it was found that about 75% per cent were smokers or had been smokers at some stage. Drinking alcohol is also a risk factor, especially in combination with smoking or using tobacco. There are several other risk factors include diet and genetic history. Although it is important to remember that even if you fit none of the above risk profiles there is still a chance of developing oral cancer.

The symptoms appear as small red, white or blotchy patches on the lining of the mouth that don’t clear up naturally after a couple of weeks. These can be quite painful and sensitive to food and drink of certain temperatures. Other symptoms include unexplained bleeding in the mouth and sudden weight loss.

Most cases of oral cancer are diagnosed by dentists at check up appointments. Central London dentists are trained to spot the first signs of oral cancer. Early diagnosis results in a greater than 80% chance of surviving the cancer and making a full recovery. This is just one of the many reasons why regular visits to your dentist are very important.

Gingivitis, the milder form of periodontitis, commonly known as gum disease, is one of the most common causes of lost teeth in the UK, especially among the elderly. The disease is caused by bacteria and plaque building up in the mouth which cause an inflammation and infection of the gum tissue. This infection attacks the tissue that surrounds the tooth, the gum membranes and even the underlying bone structure. Gum disease is preventable and is usually caused by poor hygiene, including a lack of effective brushing and flossing, and poor diet.

When gingivitis becomes the more serious periodontits it will require treatment from a dentist to completely cure. This may involve a course of antibiotics and even some tissue removal, depending on the condition of the gums. This can be painful and unpleasant so it is always wise to treat gum disease as early as possible. Most dentists will recommend treating gingivitis with improved brushing and flossing (your City of London dentist will be able to show you how during a routine check up). It may also involve rinsing your mouth with salty water a number of times a day to help fight the inflammation.

There are also a number of herbal remedies that can be used to treat gingivitis that can help to eliminate the infection and reduce inflammation. For acute gum disease, plantain poultices with drops of Echinacea tincture applied to the area can really help to alleviate the symptoms. By taking a small gauze, covered in the remedy, and applying it to the area for a long period, preferably overnight, you can help to fight the gum disease.

Other herbs that can be used to treat gum disease include aloe vera and clove. Both of which have anti-inflammatory qualities that can help to sooth the discomfort of gum disease. Ask your dentist for more information about herbal remedies for gum disease.

Oral cancer can be a particularly unpleasant and painful disease that can often be fatal if not diagnosed and treated in time. In most instances, cases of oral cancer are first spotted and diagnosed by dentists who are specially trained to recognise the first signs of the disease. By keeping up regular appointments at the dentist you are far more likely to catch oral cancer in its early stages and stand a greater than 80 per cent chance of successful treatment.

Common causes of oral cancer are smoking, especially heavy smokers of more than 20 a day. Heavy alcohol consumption is also a high risk factor and the effects of both are magnified when combined. Smokers are 24 times more likely to suffer from oral cancer than non-smokers.

Age is also an important factor with patients over 50 being more likely to contract the condition. And men are almost three times as likely to suffer than women. However, it is worth remembering that in 25 per cent of cases of oral cancer the patient had none of the high-risk qualities. Oral cancer can strike at any time, which again emphasises the need for regular dental check ups.

The symptoms are usually white or red sore spots on the lining of the mouth or lips, which do not disappear naturally after two or three weeks. The spots can be very sore, not unlike mouth ulcers, making eating, drinking and even talking very difficult. Other signs include an unexplained change in voice or weight loss.

The only sure fire way of beating oral cancer is to visit a City of London dentist every six-months for a check up. If you have any suspicious sores in the mouth or other symptoms make an appointment to see a dentist as soon as possible.

Oral cancer includes cancer of any part of the mouth or throat including the lips and tongue. It commonly occurs on the lining of the cheek, palate or gum tissue so it is very often a dentist that will spot the first signs of the disease. Dentists are fully trained to examine for all oral cancer during a routine check up appointment.

The first signs of oral cancer are usually small patches of sore or sensitive skin that don’t heal naturally. These are often pale coloured or white patches known as leukoplakia or darker, redder patches called erythroplakia, which may develop a burning sensation as the problem develops. They will also be very sensitive to hot and cold food and drink.

Some of the main causes for oral cancer are alcohol and tobacco. Strong links exist between alcohol consumption and the development of oral cancer, and smokers are over six times more likely to suffer from oral cancer. But it must be remembered that even people who neither drink nor smoke may still be affected, so it is always worth having any suspicious patches in the mouth examined.

Catching oral cancer early can help to improve the chances of surviving the disease by 80 per cent, so maintaining six-monthly appointments with a London dentist is crucial in the fight against the disease. If you have any sores in the mouth, unexplained bleeding of the gums or have experienced a sudden dramatic weight loss, make an appointment to see a London dentist to check for oral cancer.

Gum disease is the inflammation and infection of the gum tissue that anchors teeth to the jaw. It is a very common condition affecting nearly half of all adults but it can be treated easily if caught early by a dentist or dental hygienist.

The two main types of gum disease are gingivitis and the more serious periodontitis. Gingivitis is when the gums are attacked by plaque built up after eating. Plaque can be removed by correct brushing and flossing and can also be removed in harder forms by the dentist. Periodontitis follows on from gingivitis and causes infections in pockets where the gum has begun to come away from the tooth. It causes gum tissue to die and shrink away from the tooth exposing sensitive areas of the teeth and causing decay. Periodontitis is not reversible, as gum tissue cannot be made to grow back.

Symptoms of gum disease include sore or irritated gums and occasional bleeding, and shrinking tissue in more serious cases. It can be treated by a process called scaling or in cases of periodontitis by gum surgery. However, the best form of treatment is prevention. Keeping teeth and gums clean and free from plaque helps to prevent gum disease in the first instance and regular visits to a Central London dentist can help to tackle the first signs of any problems. Dentists or hygienists can also show you the correct way to brush and floss that will keep your gums disease free.

Oral cancer can be fatal if not caught at a sufficiently early stage. If detected early enough, oral cancer patients stand a greater than 80 per cent chance of survival. Therefore it is very important that you have any suspicious sores examined as soon as possible. Another key defence against oral cancer is to keep up regular six-month dental appointments. Dentists are trained to spot the signs of oral cancer and are also able to perform swab biopsies on any suspicious areas as part of a check up.

Oral cancer is considered to be any cancer that affects any part of the mouth including the lips, tongue and throat. It usually appears as sores on the lining of the mouth or throat, not unlike mouth ulcers, but that do not disappear naturally after a period of two weeks.

Certain groups are at a higher risk than others with men being twice as likely to suffer from the condition as women. Patients who smoke excessively are a massive 600 times more likely to develop oral cancer as non-smokers. Patients who drink heavily are also at a greater risk of the condition. However, it is important to remember that oral cancer can affect anybody at any time regardless of lifestyle, so you can never be complacent.

The sores are usually a deep red or white colour and are sensitive to touch and especially hot and cold food. They are usually very painful and make it difficult to eat, drink or even speak. Oral cancer may also manifest itself in the unexplained bleeding of the gums or weight loss.

There are more symptoms than described here so it is always wise to visit a dentist if you are unsure about any activity in your mouth. Any unexplained soreness or patches in the mouth can easily be examined by a dentist and with cancer it is always better to be safe than sorry. Make an appointment every six-months with a Central London dentist and protect yourself from oral cancer.

Oral cancer usually manifests itself as sores on the inside of your mouth, which resemble mouth ulcers but don’t disappear after a couple of weeks. Oral cancers, which include all cancers in the oral cavity, including lips, tongue and throat can be life-threatening if not caught early so keeping up regular appointments with your dentist, or having any suspicious sores examined as soon as possible is highly recommended.

Certain factors mean that people are at a greater risk of contracting oral cancer. Men are twice as likely to suffer as women, especially men over the age of 50. People who drink or smoke excessively are at particular risk, with smokers being a massive 660 times more likely to suffer from oral cancer than non-smokers. However, it is important not to be complacent about oral cancer as it can effect people who neither smoke nor drink at all.

The sores associated with oral cancer usually appear as white or red patches in the lining of the mouth. It is also common for there to be unexplained bleeding of the lining of the mouth and even the gums. The sores will make it very difficult to carry out everyday activities like eating, drinking or talking without suffering pain. There are other signs that you may be suffering with oral cancer like a sudden or unexplained weight loss.

There are of course more symptoms, many of which can be very subtle so it is always wise to consult a dentist if you have any suspicious sores. A Central London dentist will be able to carry out a brush biopsy, a painless swab for testing, as part of a regular check up. They are also well trained in the signs and symptoms of oral cancer so they can be your first line of defence. Early detection of oral cancer can give you a greater than 80 per cent chance of survival.