I'm a top dentist - here's the subtle sign your mouth ulcer is actually cancer...as oral cancer cases double in young people, under 50s should perform weekly, vital checks

Oral health campaigners have urged Britons to check their mouths for early signs of cancer amid a soaring rise in the condition in young people.New cases of mouth cancer, also known as oral cancer, have more than doubled over the last 20 years – driven by diagnoses in under 50s. Yet, according to new research by the Oral Health Foundation, awareness of the warning signs has failed to keep pace.Fewer than a third of adults have ever checked their mouth for suspicious changes, while half would struggle to name a single symptom. Now, experts have urged Britons to pay particular attention to their mouth ulcers – which many too often assume are a normal sign of being run down. 'It's easy to explain away an ulcer, patch or lump, especially if it doesn't hurt,' Catherine Brady, registered dentist and President Elect of the foundation said. 'But a change that persists for over three weeks needs checking by a healthcare professional. 'Most changes won't be cancer, but you need a professional diagnosis to know for sure. If something is unusual for you, contact a dentists or doctor. You are not wasting anyone's time. 'Mouth cancer can affect anyone, and knowing the signs matters whatever your lifestyle.' Like many serious health conditions, the sooner it is caught, the better it responds to treatment. More than 11,000 people are diagnosed with the disease each year in the UK.It can affect any part of the mouth, including the gums, tongue, inside of the cheek and lips.Ulcers that don't clear up – either in the gums or tongue – within three weeks may be one of the easiest signs to spot. 'If the tongue has some sort of painless ulcer that doesn't clear up in a matter of weeks, that's one of the biggest warning signs of a high risk oral cancer,' Dr Victoria Sampson, a functional dentist at The Health Society said. This is a fact that Karen Liesching-Schroder knows all too well, after ignoring her symptoms for weeks. 'I had an ulcer on my tongue, but it didn't heal and it turned into a hole in my tongue,' she says. Karen never thought she could have mouth cancer. She never smoked, drank rarely and is a keen runner. So when an ulcer appeared on her tongue, she didn't think much of it 'But I still didn't realised that that was tongue cancer at the time.' The mother-of-two had never smoked, rarely drank alcohol and as a runner considered herself reasonably healthy, making the diagnosis difficult to accept. Patients who present with this symptom will be referred to a specialist, who will perform a biopsy on the affected area.Some patients may also need an x-ray, ultrasound or MRI scan. Treatment depends on the size of the cancer and whether it has spread to other parts of the body, but surgery is usually required to remove mouth cancer. Sometimes an area around the cancer may also need to be removed to prevent the cancer from returning. This may include part of the tongue or the jaw – which is why it is crucial to get any changes checked by a professional.'Do not wait three weeks to seek advice about any worrying changes,' Ms Brady urged. 'The three-week message applies specifically to an ulcer that has not healed. 'Dental practices should take concerns about changes in the mouth seriously and arrange prompt assessments. But if you cannot get a dental appointment, contact your GP. Other common symptoms include a red or white patch inside the mouth, an unusual lump or swelling in the mouth, lip or neck, difficulty swallowing and a hoarse voice. Smoking, alcohol and human papillomavirus (HPV) – a normally harmless virus that is spread sexually and through skin contact – are the primary causes. The risk of mouth cancer also increases with age; however more young people are being diagnosed with the disease.Experts say this could be partly due to a lack of access to NHS dentistry (where medical professionals can spot warning signs) and changing lifestyle factors – with vaccine hesitancy and vaping likely contributing to the uptick in cases. Despite being positioned as a tool for quitting smoking, vaping could be as harmful as cigarettes - and substantially increase the risk of mouth cancer. Australian researchers found that vaping can cause changes to a user's DNA, increasing the risk of cell damage linked to cancer. Vaping also causes changes to the oral microbiome, driving inflammation which increases the risk of disease. Regularly drinking excessive amounts of alcohol increases the risk of developing mouth cancer fourfold, and those who drink and smoke are around 30 times more likely to develop the disease. Poor diet, social deprivation and sun exposure have also been highlighted as potential risk factors. The Oral Health Foundation has urged Britons to regularly check their mouth for signs in front of a mirror to help learn what is normal for them.After brushing, look out for unusual swellings, skin changes, sores, ulcers, lumps on the neck, inside the lips and cheeks - and on the gums and under and around the tongue, Ms Brady advises.If you notice anything unusual or that does not clear up in three weeks, see your GP or dental professional.The positive news, experts say, is that large numbers of people will be protected from the condition, at least partially, as they are vaccinated against the HPV virus.Oral cancer is primarily caused by HPV, which is primarily transmitted through sexual contact, including any form of oral sex. Most types of HPV are harmless, but some are linked to an increased risk of certain types of cancer, including cervical, mouth and anal cancer. It works by training the immune system to recognise HPV, stimulating the body to produce antibodies without causing infection. If a vaccinated person is later exposed to HPV, their immune system can quickly destroy the virus before it causes damage. Most women below the age of 30, and 18-year-old men or younger, should have received an HPV vaccine, meaning they are not at-risk. But it is estimated that as rates of smoking and alcohol consumption continue to fall, HPV could overtake them as the main risk factor for oral cancer in as little as a decade.