3 November 2010

As November marks Mouth Cancer Month Brits are being urged to get regular check-ups and take out dental insurance to ensure it is caught early.

As November marks Mouth Cancer Month Brits are being urged to get regular check-ups and take out dental insurance to ensure it is caught early.

As November marks Mouth Cancer Month Brits are being urged to get regular check-ups and take out dental insurance to ensure it is caught early.

The awareness scheme is being organised by the British Dental Health Foundation who warn 5, people are diagnosed with mouth cancer every year and 2, die from it equating to one death every five hours.

Simplyhealth advisor Michael Thomas advises people to look at their lifestyle choices, in particularly smoking, as tobacco is the most common cause of mouth cancer. Drinking over the recommended daily amount of alcohol also increases the risk.

Drinking and smoking at the same time increases the mouth's absorption of the tobacco making people who drink and smoke to excess 3 times more likely to develop mouth cancer.

"There are some key lifestyle choices you can make to protect yourself against mouth cancer," said Michael Thomas.

"Of course it's also vital that you visit your dentist on a regular basis, as they will look for signs of mouth cancer and could make an early diagnosis."

It is also advised to help prevent mouth cancer to eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables to lower the risk.

According to research from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City drinking five cups of coffee a day could also cut the risk of mouth cancer.

The researchers discovered evidence to suggest some of the ingredients in coffee can decrease the risk as regular coffee drinkers are over a third less likely to develop cancer of the mouth or throat.

Coffee contains more than 1, chemicals including anti-oxidants, however caffeine appeared not to be the magic ingredient as drinking large quantities of tea, which also contains caffeine, was not found to have the same effect.

Instead it is thought the beneficial elements are more likely to come from the chemicals cafestol and kahweol.

Compare Dental Insurance

It is advised to have regular check-ups to catch mouth cancer as early as possible. Compare dental insurance policies to cover any expensive procedures.

Compare Dental Insurance with Moneymaxim