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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.