WE’RE all taught to be aware of potential signs of cancer – from strange lumps and skin changes to unexplained weight loss and red flags in our poo.
But the early signs of some cancers, like oral cancer, can be harder to spot, with them being subtle in nature or easily mistaken for other conditions.
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That’s where your dentist comes in.
Dentists are trained to routinely screen for signs of oral cancer during regular check-ups and can often be the first to spot early signs.
Oral cancer, also known as mouth cancer, develops in the oral cavity, which includes the lips, tongue, gums, and the lining of the mouth.
Last year, the UK saw record mouth cancer cases, with 10,825 diagnosed annually, representing a 133 per cent increase over the last 20 years, according to the Oral Health Foundation’s State of Mouth Cancer UK Report 2024.
In response to this trend, Dr Safa Al-Naher, Founder and Principal Dentist at Serene by Dr Safa in Knightsbridge, London, is highlighting the importance of early detection and awareness.
Dr Safa started off by listing the signs of oral cancer she looks out for during a routine check-up:
- A lump in your mouth or on your lip that doesn’t go away after a couple of weeks
- An ulcer in your mouth that isn’t healing
- A lump in your neck or enlarged lymph nodes in your neck
- A sore throat that you’ve had for a long time, and doesn’t seem to be getting better
- Difficulty or pain when chewing or swallowing
- Unexplained bleeding in your mouth
- Difficulty moving your jaw
- Red, or red and white patches in your mouth
- Numbness of your lip or another part of your mouth
- Loose teeth or dentures that no longer fit you properly
But not all signs are evident by looking inside your mouth.
Dr Safa says there two symptoms that can indicate oral cancer even before you say ‘ahh!’.
“These are difficulties with your speech,” she said.
“You may sound hoarse or quieter, or you may slur your words.
“And pain in your ear. This can be caused by damage to a nerve near your tongue.”
Oral cancer can be deadly, especially if detected late.
But early detection and treatment significantly improve survival rates.
Biggest oral problem
One of the biggest risk factors for developing mouth cancer is tobacco use.
In recent years, more smokers have been switching to vaping to ditch the habit with studies showing vaping can be a less harmful alternative.
But Dr Safa revealed some of the most significant oral problems she’s seeing are the effects of vapes.
She said: “We’re seeing all sorts of weird and wonderful patches in the mouth and on the tongue.
“It is not easy to diagnose why patches are occurring in the mouth. We generally have to rely on taking a medical history and those with patches of this nature usually vape.
“The patches are brown or yellow, and similar to those in people who smoke cigarettes.
“Also, there is often difficulty in mouth healing after extractions with people who vape.
“And they also cause bad breath.”
Be cautious of hot drinks
Drinking alcohol is another risk factor for mouth cancer.
But Dr Safa also warns to be wary of hot drinks.
She said: “Drinking hot drinks potentially increases cancer risk if they’re very hot and you have a habit of drinking scalding hot drinks.
“If the burn is not allowed to heal, it causes trauma.
“Anything that’s not allowed to heal can develop into something a little bit more sinister.”
A recent study also found sugary drinks can increase your risk of mouth cancer by five times.
The three most effective ways to prevent mouth cancer
It’s also important that you have regular dental check-ups because dentists can often spot the early stages of mouth cancer.
Source: NHS
Bleeding gums aren’t always a sign of cancer…
While bleeding gums can be a sign of cancer, particularly leukaemia or gum cancer, they’re very often down to gum disease, Dr Safa said.
The good news is, gum disease can be stopped in its tracks.
So what should we do if we notice that our gums are bleeding?
There are five important steps Dr Safa recommends you should take:
1. Brush twice a day for two minutes with a fluoride toothpaste
Effective tooth brushing is the first thing in Dr Safa’s top tips list for a reason.
She said: “Brushing our teeth twice a day for two minutes with a fluoride toothpaste is vital for gum health and also helps protect against other tooth decay.
“The best results are achieved if you brush last thing at night and first thing in the morning – ideally before you eat breakfast – using an electric toothbrush.”
2. Start using interdental brushes or dental floss
Make this the second step in your daily oral health routine, said Dr Safa.
She explained: “This is because a toothbrush cannot reach between the teeth like interdental brushes or floss can.
“It’s important to get into these areas which a toothbrush cannot reach, otherwise pockets of plaque may build up, potentially causing problems for our gums.
“When we first start using interdental brushes or floss it is not uncommon for our gums to bleed.
“If this happens, it is important to persist and keep going.
“After a week or two the bleeding should stop.
“I am often asked how many teeth I should floss between – and I reply, only the teeth you want to keep!”
3. Use a mouthwash
Using a mouthwash is beneficial for oral health as it helps to clear our mouth of debris, said Dr Safa.
She added: “It also helps prevent plaque build-up on our gums, in-between our teeth, and on the surface of our teeth in between brushing.
“It can also help to freshen our breath by killing bacteria.
“It’s important when considering a mouthwash to choose
one containing fluoride to help give the mouth extra protection throughout the day.”
4. Visit the dentist and/or dental hygienist
If you have bleeding gums it’s a good idea to contact your dentist or dental hygienist, especially if you haven’t seen yours for over a year, said Dr Safa.
She explained: “We may want to see you more frequently, for example every three to six months, if there are signs of gum disease.
“We can give our advice on cleaning techniques and remove any tartar build-up which may develop faster or in larger quantities if you are not quite removing plaque efficiently at home.
“If you are pregnant, you may be more prone to bleeding gums which is why your dental treatment is free during your pregnancy and it may prevent your baby being born early or underweight.”
5. Look at your diet and lifestyle
Smoking increases the risk of gum disease so it’s a good idea for both your oral health and overall health to quit.
This is because smoking causes a lack of oxygen in the bloodstream,
so the infected gums don’t get the chance to heal, said Dr Safa.
She added: “It’s also a good idea to keep your alcohol consumption in check as it can also affect the health of the mouth.
“Adopting a healthy lifestyle is also important in order for our mouth to function properly.
“A diet rich in fresh fruit and vegetables can help us to prevent gum disease.
“Watch out though as processed foods with ‘no added sugar’ don’t mean that they are sugar-free, it just indicates that no extra sugar has been added, but does not include the presence of naturally-occurring sugars.
“You may want to avoid dried fruit, for example, as not only are they very high in natural sugars, but they cling to the teeth like glue!”
