The Oral, Maxillofacial and Mouth Care teams at the Trust are raising awareness of mouth cancer and sharing the important message of being mouth aware during Mouth Cancer Action Month this November.
Oral and Maxillofacial team promoting Mouth Cancer Action Month
The teams will be holding information display in the main entrance at Eastbourne DGH on 25th November and at Conquest Hospital on 14th November in the main reception and on the 21st November on Level 4 outside the restaurant.
Julie Lewis-Clements, Dental Nurse said: “Sadly Mouth Cancer is on the rise especially among the younger generation, no longer is the stereotype patient male and over 50 who has a history of drinking and smoking excessively. Over the last year, 8,337 people in the UK were given the life-changing news that they have mouth cancer. It is the sixth most common cancer in the world and claims more lives per year than cervical and testicular cancer combined. Each year more people die from Mouth Cancer than road traffic accidents. So we are keen to promote oral health messages and make people mouth aware.”
Like many cancers, early detection greatly improves prognosis – so regularly checking for unusual changes in the mouth is very important. Oral health is important and people are encouraged to:
- Visit your dentist regularly
- If you notice something in your mouth that isn’t normal for you, please if in doubt check it out. Go to your dentist
- If you have a mouth ulcer for two weeks or more you should get it checked
- Eat a healthy balanced diet
- Brush your teeth twice a day