Dental Care and Oral Cancer Checks at Absolute Dental

Cancer Research UK recently attributed the increase in Oral Cancer diagnoses to rising rates of infection with HPV human papilloma virus 

Two thirds of the 6,200 cases of mouth cancer diagnosed in the UK in 2011 were men.

Experts say men are more likely to smoke and drink heavily, both significant risk factors in oral cancer although the increase may also be due to rising rates of the HPV infection.

Up to eight in 10 Britons will contract HPV at some point in their lives and the virus is usually harmless.

However one strain in particular HPV-16 is known to cause cell changes which could develop into cancer.

There were particularly sharp rises in rates of cancers at the base of the tongue (an almost 90 per cent increase) and the tonsils (around a 70 per cent increase) - two areas of the mouth where cancers are more commonly HPV-related.

Richard Shaw, at the Liverpool Cancer Research UK Centre, said: 

'We have seen a rapid increase in the number of HPV16-positive cases of oral cancer. Patients tend to be younger, are less likely to be smokers .'

Sara Hiom at Cancer Research UK said 

'It's really important for people to know the signs and symptoms ....mouth ulcers that just won't heal, lumps in the mouth, lips or throat, or red or white patches in the mouth that won't go away.

'Dentists have an important role to play in spotting oral cancer early and encouraging their patients to take care of their mouths. So make sure you attend regular dental check-ups.'

Ruth