Of all the oral problems you could experience, none are quite so devastating and serious as oral cancer. This condition can kill in almost all cases if not caught in sufficient time and treated effectively. As you will probably be aware, one third of all people will suffer from cancer at some point in their life. This is a worrying statistic and one that means we have to be extra vigilant about the way we deal with strange and unusual things about our body. This could involve going to have a mole checked out, checking breasts and testicles for lumps and also, crucially, being aware of any painful or unusual marks in the mouth.

Oral cancer usually manifests itself in the mouth as small red or white sores that are very painful and do not clear up naturally after a week or so. The sores are often very sensitive to hot and cold food and drink and may also be bleeding. The other signs of oral cancer include bleeding in the mouth, unexplained weight loss and pain in the neck or head.

If you are unsure about anything in your mouth you need to have it checked out immediately by a London SE1 dentist. Even if it turns out to be nothing more than mouth ulcer it is always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to cancer. If you do catch oral cancer in its early stages, you stand a greater than eighty per cent chance of surviving the disease but these odds begin to fall very quickly the longer you leave it.

The other important thing to remember is that by keeping up regular appointments with your dentist they will be able to examine your mouth for any signs of the disease, again increasing your chances of beating cancer should you be so unfortunate as to develop this terrible killer

Oral Cancer has many contributory causes, although the actual cause is still a mystery to Oncologists says a dentist from SE1 in London. Oral hygiene is just one such contributory factor as is smoking and the use of chewing tobacco; drugs that are rubbed on gums are also now seen as a factor. The tumours come in different forms and grow on the lips, inner mouth, gums and tongue; they come in the form of lumps, lesions and white spots. It is a difficult cancer to see early in the development as the process is usually quite painless, a burning sensation is felt in the latter stages and this is generally the result of a cut caused by brushing. Swallowing along with throat infections and swelling are often associated with Oral Cancer. Bad blood circulation caused by diabetes and other related blood disorders are now known to be causes. Alcohol is a major cause of triggering the cancer gene that all have in our DNA, excessive use of this drug, yes it is a drug, is not only harmful to the vital organs such as the liver and kidneys. Alcohol contains enzymes that have long been associated with cancer cell growth, and that’s in all parts of the body. In the oral area alcohol enters our mouths in its rawest form and is totally undiluted by our body’s defences. That makes Oral Cancer one of the most prolific cancers that affects us, and one of the hardest to detect in the early stages. A simple regime of oral hygiene will greatly reduce our chances of Oral Cancer, as will a reduction or a complete stoppage of too much alcohol and tobacco consumption. Thankfully today our dentists are more aware of this disease and are helping in the battle to reduce Oral Cancers, but you need to be vigilant and make sure you get your 6 monthly check ups.