Mouth cancer risk increases with increased alcohol intake.
The good news is if caught early mouth cancer can be cured. I have detected several cancers in my patients that have been treated successfully. I screen my patients for mouth cancer at every examination for this reason. Early detection saves lives!
There is a new goverment campagn: Drinking “just a little more than they should” puts people at risk of serious illness including heart disease, stroke and mouth cancer, the government is warning.
A TV advertising campaign is being launched. It warns regularly drinking two large glasses of wine or two strong pints of beer a day triples mouth cancer risk and doubles high blood pressure risk.
They have not mentioned that the combination with smoking and alcohol is even higher risk!
6,000 people will be diagnosed with mouth cancer this year, without early detection half will die, early detection means 90% will live (british dental health foundation).
Signs to look out for are:
Ulcers that do not heal in 3 weeks
Red patches, or red and white patches
Unusual lumps or swellings
Reduce the risk by following the advice, but get yourself checked reguarly as well. Early detection saves lives.