Oral cancer

Mouth cancer (also known as oral cancer) is where an abnormal group of cells develop on the gums, cheek, lips, tongue and more rarely the salivary glands. It is diagnosed in 5,000 people annually and kills almost 2,000 people each year – that’s one death every five hours.

Regular examinations with your dentist ensure you are checked for all the signs of cancer. Things to look out for are:

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

Awareness and detection saves lives. Dentists can often spot the early stages of mouth cancer and if diagnosed at an early stage, a complete cure is often possible.