Dentist Warns Of New Oral Sex-Cancer Link

Thu, 27 Nov 2008

Young people who practice oral sex run the risk of contracting mouth cancer, a dentist has warned.

Peter Hughes of Quayside Dental Care in Derry revealed the latest studies show that the disease is affecting younger people as well as those with healthy lifestyles.

Speaking during oral cancer awareness week, Hughes explained: "High risk habits are smoking, drinking (especially worse when the two are combined), oral sex (mostly women), harmful UV light, sun beds and improper use of sun screen and poor diet."

He added: "The newest and most alarming trend though is the increase in the number of young people who have all the high risk factors and because oral sex is seen by some as safe sex, more young women are at much higher risk from oral cancer ."

The dentist said researchers had identified a clear link between mouth cancer and the sexually transmitted human papilloma virus (HPV), which is transmitted through oral sex and is thought to have contributed to a significant rise the number of mouth cancer cases in young men over the last ten years.

Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation (BDHF) described the link as "extremely disturbing".

Speaking during Mouth Cancer Action Week earlier this month, he said the research must now move people to take action to protect themselves from mouth cancer, a view echoed by Hughes.

"New techniques and treatments are vital to our population's health as we take action against this disease," Dr Carter stressed. "We hope, in the first place, the public will heed our campaign slogan: ‘if in doubt, get checked out'."

Peter Hughes added that "regular screening" with a dentist is crucial as mouth cancer is usually painless and invisible to the naked eye in the early stages.

"A new advanced early screening method is now available - patients can improve chances of survival if the cancer is spotted early and treated rapidly."

Mouth cancer kills one person every three hours in the UK and there is three times the amount of new cases than cervical cancer .
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