Mouth Cancer - Support and Resources
Raise awareness and help employees to spot the disease early.
New cases of mouth cancer in the UK reached 10,825 last year. However, awareness of the signs, symptoms and risk factors is poor, with only around 20% of people aware*.
November is Mouth Cancer Action Month, an important opportunity to raise awareness about the disease, and provide your employees with resources and knowledge for prevention and early detection.
*Source: Oral health Foundation
Key tips to help prevent oral cancer:
- Avoid tobacco: Smoking or chewing tobacco products increases the risk of oral cancer significantly. Reducing or eliminating tobacco use is one of the most effective preventive measures.
- Limit alcohol consumption: Excessive alcohol use, particularly when combined with tobacco, is a major risk factor. Limit intake to moderate levels or avoid it altogether to reduce risk.
- Get the HPV Vaccine: Human papillomavirus (HPV), especially HPV-16, is linked to oropharyngeal cancers. Vaccination against HPV can protect against virus strains that increase oral cancer risk.
- Use sun protection: Lip cancer is more common with excessive sun exposure. Using SPF-rated lip balms and limiting direct sun exposure can help protect the lips.
- Maintain a balanced diet: A diet rich in fruits and vegetables provides antioxidants and vitamins that can help protect cells from DNA damage, reducing cancer risk.
- Avoid irritants: Reduce exposure to other potential irritants, like rough teeth edges or poorly fitted dentures, which can damage oral tissues over time and contribute to cancer risk.
Encouraging regular screenings and healthy lifestyle changes can significantly reduce oral cancer risks.
How to support your employees:
- Provide education resource: Share information on mouth cancer, including risk factors, symptoms, and early detection methods. Use newsletters, emails, or intranet platforms to share the resources. We've created a series of oral health toolkits for you to use to support daily prevention.
- Create a supportive environment: Foster open conversations about health and wellness, making it easy for employees to discuss concerns related to oral health without stigma.
- Make dental support accessible: All Canada Life workplace protection policyholders have access to the dental app Toothfairy at no additional cost as part of the benefits scheme. This means all your employees can use it for free. If you haven't already, share the access code with your employees to onboard them today.
- Encourage regular dental check-ups and self-examinations: Dentists can often detect early signs of oral cancer. Regular check-ups allow for professional screening and early detection, improving treatment outcomes. Performing monthly self-exams to look for any changes in the mouth is also useful, such as persistent sores, lumps, or patches. Early detection is crucial, as oral cancers found at an early stage can have a high survival rate.
Oral Health resources to share with your employees:
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