Every November, the Oral Health Foundation runs Mouth Cancer Action Month, a campaign it has led since 2000 under the message “Be Mouthaware”. It’s a good moment to talk about a part of your check-up that most patients don’t realise is happening.

While you’re lying back and we’re looking at your teeth, we’re also checking your mouth for signs of cancer.

Why it Matters

According to the Oral Health Foundation, around 10,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with mouth cancer each year, and it claims more lives than cervical and testicular cancer combined.

The encouraging part is how much early detection changes things. The Foundation’s figures show survival rates rise from around 50% to around 90% when mouth cancer is caught early. Your dentist sees the inside of your mouth more closely and more regularly than anyone else, which puts us in a good position to spot changes early.

What We Check During Your Appointment

The screening is quick, painless and built into every routine examination at Ropergate. We look at and feel:

• Your lips, inside and out
• The inside of your cheeks
• Your tongue: the top, the sides and underneath, where a lot of mouth cancers start
• The floor of your mouth
• The roof of your mouth and the soft palate towards the back
• Your gums all the way round
• Your neck and jaw, feeling for any swollen lymph nodes

We’re looking for anything that’s changed or doesn’t look right: patches, lumps, ulcers, areas of thickened tissue. Most of what we find turns out to be harmless, like a cheek bite or an irritated patch from a sharp tooth. When something needs a closer look, we’ll explain what we’ve seen and, if needed, refer you to a hospital specialist promptly.

Signs to Watch for Between Visits

You don’t need to wait for your check-up to act. Get in touch with a dentist or your GP if you notice any of these, particularly if they’ve lasted three weeks or more:

• A mouth ulcer that hasn’t healed
• A red or white patch anywhere in the mouth
• A lump or swelling on the lip, gums, tongue or inside the cheek
• Pain or difficulty swallowing
• A persistent sore throat or change in your voice
• Numbness or an odd feeling in the lips or tongue
• A tooth that becomes loose for no obvious reason

The three-week mark is the important one. Most ulcers clear up within a week or two. One that’s still there after three weeks needs checking.

Who is at Higher Risk

Anyone can develop mouth cancer, including people who’ve never smoked. That said, the main risk factors are well established:

• Smoking and other tobacco use, including chewing tobacco and paan
• Drinking alcohol, with the risk rising sharply for people who both drink and smoke
• HPV (human papillomavirus), now recognised as a significant cause, particularly for cancers towards the back of the mouth and throat

If any of these apply to you, it’s another good reason to keep your check-ups regular, and to tell us about any changes you’ve noticed.

How to Check Your Own Mouth

Once a month, in good light, take a minute in front of the mirror. Pull your lips out and look inside. Stick your tongue out, then move it to each side and lift it to see underneath. Look at the insides of your cheeks and the roof of your mouth. Then run your fingers gently along your neck and under your jaw.

You’re not trying to diagnose anything. You’re getting to know what’s normal for you, so you’ll notice if something changes.

Book Your Check-up

If it’s been more than a year since your last examination, Mouth Cancer Action Month is a good nudge to book in. Our dentists carry out a full soft tissue check as part of every routine examination, and it’s included in the two yearly examinations on our membership plans.

Worried about something right now? Call us on 01977 703413 and tell the team what you’ve noticed. We’d much rather see you and reassure you than have you sit on it.