Help us to save lives!
Welcome to the British Dental Health Foundation's Mouth Cancer Action website.
The British Dental Health Foundation is one of the leading campaigners to help raise awareness of the risks and symptoms of mouth cancer in the world. In the UK, we organise our annual Mouth Cancer Action Month campaign each November to encourage everyone to find out more about a disease which has increased by approaching 50 per cent since 1997.
We estimate that over the next decade around 60,000 people in
the UK will be diagnosed with the disease. Without early detection an estimated
30,000 people will die. Worldwide, over 460,000 people are expected to die from mouth cancer each year by 2030.
Mouth cancer can affect anyone, but people who smoke, drink alcohol to excess, have a poor diet or use chewing and smokeless tobacco are particularly at risk. More recently, one of the most common sexually transmittted infections - the Human Papilloma Virus or HPV for short - has been linked to mouth cancer.
Looking out for the early warning signs of mouth cancer is really important. The warning signs include:
- Ulcers which do not heal within three weeks
- Red and white patches in the mouth
- Unusual lumps or swellings in the mouth
Our message to everyone is please take action – ‘If In Doubt, Get Checked Out’.
We’re supporting more than 750,000 people as they ‘take the leap’ and get ready to quit smoking on No Smoking Day – Wednesday 14 March. The annual health campaign, which is now in its 29th year, has now joined forces with the British Heart Foundation and aims to reach even more of the UK’s 10 million smokers and help them ditch the cigarettes for good. Two thirds of smokers say they want to quit. If you’re one of them, or you know someone who is, get help and support to quit at www.taketheleap.co.uk.
Latest News
NICE identifies key role for dentists to help smokeless tobacco cessation
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is recommending a key role for dental professionals in their public health intervention proposals to help stop the use of smokeless tobacco by people of South Asian Origin.
Dentists, dental nurses and dental hygienists may be asked to play a leading role as part of new proposals to stop the use of smokeless tobacco1 in the UK. NICE have published a consultation on their proposals, which recommends a key intervention and education role for dental professionals.
Read the full story here.
Sign our e-petitionWe are urging the government to review the NHS dental charges by including an exemption category for patients who have had treatment for mouth cancer. Help us by signing this e-petition.
Follow Mouth Cancer Action on Twitter and gain access to all the latest updates, news, research and events. British Dental Health Foundation
E: pr@dentalhealth.org | T: 01788 546365
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