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How to check your mouth for signs of cancer – from bad breath tests to wobbling your teeth
Plus, who is most at risk of the disease, and when you must call your GP
DENTISTS often spot signs of mouth cancer during routine check-ups.
But appointments are becoming increasingly difficult to get, so thousands of Brits may be living with the disease and have no idea.
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Around 10,000 people are diagnosed with mouth cancer every year in the UK.
Nine in 10 sufferers will survive when it's caught early, but this drops to 50 per cent when diagnosed late.
The number of deaths from the condition has risen almost 50 per cent in the last 10 years, from 2,075 to more than 3,000.
Experts blame the surge on tell-tale signs being missed - particularly due to a shortage of staff and Brits skipping regular dental check-ups.
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Late last year, Michelle Vickers, CEO of the , told The Sun the lack of NHS dentists was a "catastrophe waiting to happen".
She said: "Dentists are an essential part in the front-line fight and diagnosis of oral cancers.
"Every dental check-up should include a mouth screen for the signs of cancer.
"This situation is fundamentally due to the failings of successive UK governments inadequately funding the provision of NHS dentistry."
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Thankfully, there are ways to take matters into your own hands.
A simple self-examination, which you can do at home, could save your life. Here, are 10 signs of mouth cancer to look out for.
1. Persistent ulcers
One of the most common symptoms of mouth, or oral, cancer is an ulcer (or ulcers) that lasts more than three weeks, according to Cancer Research UK.
These can appear on the inside of the cheeks or lips, and also on the tongue.
2. Red or white patches
Red (erythroplakia) or white (leukoplakia) patches inside the mouth, which are sometimes painful, could also suggest cancer.
These are not cancerous themselves, but they could become so if left untreated.
You can check for these by pulling your lips and cheeks down, up and to the side while looking in the mirror.
3. Lumps
If you feel any lumps or swelling inside your mouth, neck or throat, or on your lip, it might be worth making an appointment with your GP.
"Swelling in one or more lymph nodes in the neck is a common symptom of mouth and oropharyngeal cancer," CRUK says.
Lumps usually indicate an infection rather than cancer, but they can mean the disease is spreading.
4. Painful areas
After ulcers, "pain, discomfort or swelling in your mouth that doesn't go away is the other most common symptom of mouth cancer," according to CRUK.
You might also spot numbness, tingling or unusual bleeding in the mouth, or pain when moving your jaw.
5. Difficulty swallowing
Another easy at-home check for mouth cancer is to assess how easy you find eating and drinking.
"Mouth cancer can cause pain or a burning sensation when chewing and swallowing food, or you might feel like your food is sticking in your throat," CRUK says.
A sore throat that doesn't get better after a few days, which may worsen when swallowing, is also a potentially worrying sign.
6. Croaky voice
Difficulty speaking, or having a hoarse or croaky voice is another symptom to be on the lookout for.
You might spot this yourself, or it may be more noticeable to your friends, family or colleagues.
CRUK says: "Cancer in your mouth or throat can affect your voice.
"Your voice might sound different. It may be quieter, husky, or sound as if you have a cold all the time, or you might slur some of your words, or have trouble with pronouncing some sounds."
7. Bad breath
Another symptom you may not pick up on yourself is bad breath.
Most people will experience this at some point in their lives, and it is not normally cancer.
But if you have the disease, it can be worse than normal, or happen more often.
To check the smell of your own breath, you can lick your wrist, let it dry for a moment then take a whiff.
Alternatively, you can floss towards the back of your mouth then smell the floss, or gently scrape your tongue with a soft toothbrush then smell it.
8. Wobbly teeth
Mouth cancer can cause people's teeth to loosen, or sometimes fall out.
A dentist would normally spot this during a check-up, but you may also feel this when eating, or touching your teeth with your tongue.
9. Earache
Although not in your mouth, cancer can cause earache.
If you have pain in your ear that doesn't go away after a few days, call your GP.
It most likely isn't cancer, but it is worth getting it checked out.
10. Weight loss
Finally, if your clothes feel a little looser or you step onto the scales and notice the number has dropped (and you haven't been trying to lose any weight), this could be cause for concern.
"Weight loss is a common symptom of many different types of cancer," CRUK says.
"Mouth and oropharyngeal cancer can make it painful to eat and difficult to swallow. This might cause weight loss.
"Extreme weight loss (when you are not dieting) can be a sign of advanced cancer."
What is mouth cancer and who is at risk?
ABOUT 10,000 people are diagnosed with mouth cancer, sometimes called oral cancer, every year in the UK.
It can start anywhere in the mouth, from the lips and gums to inside the cheeks.
Experts don't know exactly what causes the disease, but there are some factors that can increase your risk of developing it. These include:
- Smoking
- Chewing tobacco
- Drinking alcohol
- HPV infection
- A diet low in fruit and vegetables
- A weak immune system
- Family history
- Little physical activity
Cancer that starts at the top of the throat right at the back of the mouth is called oropharyngeal cancer.
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There were 9,860 cases of mouth cancer in the UK in 2020/21 - up 12 per cent on the previous comparable year, according to the Head and Neck Foundation.
The number of NHS dentists in England is at its lowest level in a decade, with 90 per cent of practices not accepting new patients.
The number of adults seen by NHS dentists in England has fallen to 16.4million since the pandemic - compared to 22million pre-Covid.
Difficulties getting appointments have led to many people living in pain and, in some extreme cases, resorting to DIY dentistry, Healthwatch said in 2023.
Nigel Carter, chief executive of the ORF, told the that dental check-ups "are a key place for identifying the early stage of mouth cancer".
"With access to NHS dentistry in tatters, we fear that many people with mouth cancer will not receive a timely diagnosis," he added.
Eddie Crouch, chair of the British Dental Association (BDA), said: "When late detection can radically reduce your chances of survival, the access crisis millions face will inevitably cost lives.
"This condition causes more deaths than car accidents."
Head and neck cancers are the eighth most common cancer in the UK.
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Most cases are linked to smoking and alcohol misuse - but human papillomavirus (HPV) infection caught through oral sex has been linked to the rise.
Poor oral health might also be a precursor for the disease.
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