Mouth cancer diagnosis and prevention

With the chief dental officers of England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland; the Royal Colleges Dental Faculty Deans in England, Edinburgh and Glasgow; the British Dental Association (BDA); the British Dental Health Foundation (BDHF); the British Society for Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology (BSOMP), the British Association of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons (BAOMS), the British Association of Oral Surgeons (BAOS), and the Association of British Academic Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons (ABAOMS).

 The number of people being diagnosed with mouth cancer (oral cancer) is increasing, with notable rises in incidence in younger people and in females. There are certain lifestyle habits that can increase the risk of mouth cancer, such as smoking or chewing tobacco, drinking alcohol above recommended levels (especially in those who also smoke), and chewing betel nut (areca nut). Infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) increases the risk of some types of mouth cancer, and too much sun exposure may also raise the risk of lip cancers.