Mouth Cancer Screening

Regular mouth cancer screening at Crescent Lodge Dental Practice in London, takes only a few minutes but enables us to keep an eye on your oral health and identify any lesions whilst they are small and easy to treat or remove. During a screening our clinical team will carry out a thorough examination of your whole mouth, highlighting any risk factors so we can treat or refer you as quickly as possible.

If you have any sores, lumps or long-term ulcers in your mouth, no matter how small, it is crucial that you come in to have them checked.

Early warning signs

• Ulcers that do not heal within three weeks
• Red and white patches in the mouth
• Unusual changes

Risk factors 

• Smoking – One in five people in the UK smoke and the habit is still considered the leading cause of mouth cancer.
• Alcohol – Drinking to excess can increase the risk of mouth cancer by four times. As alcohol aids the absorption of tobacco into the mouth, those who smoke and drink excessively are up to 15 times more likely to develop the disease.
• HPV virus – The Human papillomavirus, transmitted via oral sex, is increasingly being linked to mouth cancer, with younger people being particularly at risk.
• Poor diet – Around half of cases are thought to be linked to an unhealthy diet.
• Chewing, or smokeless, tobacco – Although some people believe this type of tobacco is safer than smoking, the reality is that it’s just as dangerous.

As tobacco and alcohol are associated with three-quarters of cases, it is critical that smokers quit smoking and that alcohol is consumed in moderation. Prevention is essential, and lifestyle changes can assist to reduce risks. For more information, please visit Dental Health or Mouth Cancer Foundation.

For more information about mouth cancer screenings at our London dentist, or to book a consultation with our experts, please contact us today! Call us on 020 7622 5333, email reception@dentistsw4.com or complete our contact form.