London SE1 dentists are the first line of defence against oral cancer

London SE1 dentists are the first line of defence against oral cancer

11 / 09 / 2011

Recognising the intimate access that dentists have to your mouth, they have now been trained so that they are able to spot the early signs of oral cancer. This is a welcome development because the condition can be fatal but actually has quite high survival rates if it is spotted as early as possible. Go and see your London SE1 dentist every six months, or as advised, so that the general health of your mouth can be monitored and oral cancer can be dealt with effectively should it occur.

The high risk categories of oral cancer are those who smoke tobacco and regularly drink to excess. Men are also more likely to develop the condition than women. You can look out for the signs yourself before or after you have brushed your teeth. Be alert for things such as hardened patches in your mouth which you can feel with your finger. These patches might also be discoloured and can sometimes be accompanied by the sudden loss of bodily weight.

If your dentist thinks that he or she has spotted any of these signs and is thusly concerned then you will be referred to a specialist oncologist where the appropriate measures will be taken. With any luck, you will stand a good chance of retaining your good health if an early diagnosis is possible as treatments are improving all the time. If you are in the higher risk group of oral cancer then think about your lifestyle choices and consider giving up smoking and cutting down your alcohol intake. Regular visits to your dentist are wholly advisable too so that oral cancer be given a swift diagnosis.