Despite advances in cancer treatment and better screenings, rates of mouth cancers are on the rise. According to recent research by Cancer Research UK, the number of cases of mouth cancer has risen dramatically during the last twenty years. Two decades ago in the UK, there were about 3700 cases of mouth cancer diagnosed annually. That number is now over 7,500 cases annually. Experts attribute at least two thirds of those cases to smoking.
Other causes were identified as well. Drinking alcohol and having a poor diet could account for the increase as could the rise of the human papilloma virus, which is the cause of some head and neck cancers. While many people think that just keeping their teeth clean and going to the dentist is all that needs to be done, there's actually much more to prevention of mouth cancer, including diet and lifestyle changes.
