With November being Mouth Cancer Awareness Month, we thought we would use our platforms to draw attention to mouth cancer, the risk factors, signs and symptoms as well as what you can do to help prevent developing mouth cancer.
There are a number of risk factors that increase your chance of developing mouth cancer. By understanding your own risk(s), you can bring about positive changes to reduce the likelihood of a diagnosis of mouth cancer.
Smoking cigarettes, pipes and cigars can increase your risk of mouth cancer by up to 10 times!
Chewing tobacco has also been shown to increase a person’s risk of developing mouth cancer.
Unhealthy diets are linked to a third of mouth cancers as well as a lack of vitamins and minerals.
Excess alcohol can increase your chances of getting mouth cancer by up to a third.
U.V (Ultraviolet Radiation) in large amounts can cause skin cancer and develop on the lips.
If you have had mouth cancer in the past, you are at a greater risk of developing it again.
Having a close relative whom has been treated for mouth cancer can very slightly increase your chances of developing mouth cancer too.
Regular check ups can be a positive step when detecting mouth cancer as they play an important role in early detection, as well as keeping your mouth clean to help prevent some factors that would cause mouth cancer. That is why it’s important to see your hygienist/dentist twice per year. How longs it been since your last visit?