Dental Experts Urge Diabetics to be Mouth Cancer Aware This November

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November is Mouth Cancer Action Month, and dental experts are urging diabetics to be mouth cancer aware. Mouth cancer has become more prevalent in the UK in the last decade and studies show that people who have diabetes have a higher risk of developing mouth cancer.

In the UK, more than 3 million people have diabetes and research has suggested that diabetics are up to 50 per cent more likely to develop mouth cancer than non-diabetics. Researchers discovered that diabetics aged between 40 and 50 years old were most likely to be affected.

Dr Nigel Carter OBE, chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, the charity responsible for Mouth Cancer Action Month, said that it is extremely important that people are aware of the causes and symptoms of mouth cancer. Mouth cancer takes more lives in the UK than cervical and testicular cancer combined, yet many are still unaware of the warning signs and risk factors. Last week was World Diabetes Day and dental experts were eager to stress the importance of being mouth cancer aware for diabetics.

Dr Nigel Carter stated that the study was a “very significant piece of research” and hoped that it would help to save lives in the future. Diabetes has been linked to oral health issues, but this is the first study to identify a link between diabetes and an increased risk of oral cancer. Dr Carter also stressed the importance of regular dental checks for diabetic patients.

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