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The incidence of cancers of the mouth have increased in the last decade by 25% in people who are over 40 years of age.Men have an incidental increase of 28% and women 24%. The rates have increased by more than 45% since the records began in 1975.The Charity Cancer Research UK comments that cancer of the mouth caused by smoking takes up to 30 years to develop and the incidence of smoking is on the decrease. However, the consumption of alcohol is on the increase and other risk factors such as a poor diet lacking fruit and vegetables together with sexually transmitted infections have to be taken into account also.The consumption of alcohol has doubled since the 1950's and this is suggested as the main culprit.
Comment from Doctor Dental
Mouth cancer is now far more common than cancer of the cervix and the roles that smoking and alcohol consumoption play are well known. The very worrying trend is also linked to the widespread smoking and drinking amongst teenagers.Dentists have a major role to play here in driving the figures back down not only as counsellors but also as detectors of the early signs of tissue damage that can prove to be pre-cancerous. Dentists also have available advanced testing procedures that can diagnose danger well before it becomes obvious and giving rise to symptoms.
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