By Simplyhealth UK
We are excited to be sponsoring Mouth Cancer Action Month alongside our colleagues at Denplan. The campaign is running throughout November to help people be better informed about mouth cancer, its symptoms and what can be done to minimise the risks.
The risk of mouth cancer has increased by nearly 50% in the last decade so it is becoming even more important for people to be aware of the symptoms and causes of the disease. When we conducted our Annual Dental Survey 2012 we discovered that 70% of British Adults were unaware of any of the symptoms of mouth cancer. This shows just how important this campaign is in raising awareness.
What can you do to keep your mouth healthy?
It is important to visit the dentist for regular check ups, a dentist can help identify the early signs of mouth cancer. 57% of British Adults questioned for our Annual Dental Survey 2012 did not feel that their dentist checked for signs of cancer during their annual check up. If you feel that your dentist has not looked for any signs of mouth cancer you can ask them on your next visit.
There are several key risks that have been identified in increasing the chances of mouth cancer:
•Smoking
•Excessive alcohol consumption
•Poor diet
•Human Papillomavirus (HPV virus)
We have worked with the British Dental Health Foundation to produce a downloadable information guide on the risks and the warning signs. Download your copy here.
How can you support Mouth Cancer Action Month?
We are supporting Mouth Cancer Action Month because it is a cause very close to the heart of what we do. There are many things that you can do to get involved with the campaign.
Dentists are being encouraged to get their patients thinking about mouth cancer to both help spot the signs and to take measures to help prevent developing the disease.
To find out more visit the Mouth Cancer Action Month website.
Although we can try to prevent the disease there will unfortunately still be cases diagnosed and you will want to know that you are in safe hands should this happen. Our dental plan has a one off payment for those diagnosed with mouth cancer. This kind of support can make a big difference should you or someone you know sadly develop this kind of cancer.
Support Mouth Cancer Action Month and help us raise the profile of the disease so that more people can be diagnosed early.
Oral Health Foundation
The Oral Health Foundation is a charity that works to improve oral health by providing education, advice, and support to millions of people every year, changing lives for the better. Our mission is to support others in achieving a healthier life through better oral health. Our vision is to live in a world where everybody has a healthy mouth and is free of dental disease. Poor oral health can have a harmful and devastating effect on a person’s life – both for their physical health and mental wellbeing. We are determined to help more people achieve good oral health and have a better quality of life. Sadly, oral disease remains common, across the life course. We are taking the challenge to reduce the harm caused by poor oral health and the responsibility to create a healthier future for everybody. We do this because we believe that everybody deserves to have good oral health. To make sure this happens, by 2024, we will:
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• Work towards decreasing the prevalence of oral disease across communities.
• Increase the number of people accessing our help and information services.
• Diversify our range of resources to reach more communities.
• Successfully campaign for policies which help people achieve healthier lives.
• Generate new and nurture existing income streams that enable us to deliver our charitable objectives.
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• Running awareness campaigns like National Smile Month and Mouth Cancer Action Month.
• Giving anybody who needs it direct support through our Dental Helpline.
• Influencing policy on subjects like dental access, sugar, and tobacco.
• Providing consumer advice on oral health care products and working alongside manufacturers to make sure products do what they claim to do.
• Creating resources and information that communicates positive oral health messages.
• Working alongside others who share our passion for health and wellbeing.
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