Be Mouthaware, Mouth Cancer can affect anyone.
Reduce your risk
Tobacco, drinking alcohol to excess, poor diet, smokeless tobacco and the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) are the most common causes of mouth cancer. You can reduce your risk by making healthy lifestyle choices.
Warning signs
Mouth cancer can appear in different forms and can affect all parts of the mouth, tongue, lips and throat.
Check for changes
In your mouth; any red or white patches, unusual lumps or swellings, or ulcers that do not heal within three weeks. If spotted early the chances of a cure are good; DO NOT HESITATE.
TAKE ACTION, TALK TO YOUR DENTIST OR DOCTOR .
Follow these 7 easy steps;
FACE: Look at your face and neck in the mirror, do both sides look the same? Look for any lumps, bumps or swellings that are only on one side of your face.
NECK: Feel and press along the sides and front of your neck. Can you feel tenderness or lumps?
LIPS: Pull your lower lip down and check inside for any sores or changes in colour. Use your thumb and index finger to feel the lip for lumps, bumps or changes in texture. Repeat the same on your upper lip.
CHEEK: Use your finger to pull out the cheek so that you can see inside. Look for red, white or dark patches. Put your index finger inside of your cheek and your thumb on the outside. Gently squeeze and roll your cheek to check for any lumps, tenderness or ulcers. Repeat on the other cheek.
ROOF OF THE MOUTH: Tilt your head back and open your mouth wide to see if there are any lumps or if there is any change in colour. Run your finger on the roof of the mouth to feel for any lumps or ulcers.
TONGUE: Stick your tongue out and look at the surface for any changes in colour or texture. Gently pull out the tongue and look at one side first, then the other. Look for any swelling, change in colour or ulcers. Examine the underside of your tongue by placing the tip of your tongue on the roof of your mouth.
FLOOR OF THE MOUTH: Look at the floor of your mouth for changes in colour that are different than normal. Gently press your finger along the floor of your mouth and underside of your tongue to feel for any lumps, swellings or ulcers.
Your routine examination at Burgate Dental Practice & Implant Centre; includes a thorough inspection of your mouth (hard and soft tissues) as well as your face and neck. For more information or to book an appointment, please contact us at; 01227 462857.