Mouth Cancer Action Month

Real mouth cancer stories

Read stories from people who have had mouth cancer. Click on the photos to learn more.

Ali Campbell

From Dorset, she was diagnosed with mouth cancer in 2017.

Amanda Goulden

From Bolton, Amanda was diagnosed with mouth cancer when she was just 34.

Carol Moors

From Dorset, she hopes that she can encourage people to take mouth cancer more seriously by sharing her story.

Charlotte Webster-Salter

Trainee midwife and new mum Charlotte was diagnosed with mouth cancer after seeking help for some recurring ulcers.

Christine Grundy

Christine was diagnosed with mouth cancer when she was 25. She shares her thoughts on mouth cancer as both a patient and researcher.

David Shakesby

Sci-fi fanatic and father of one David from Loughborough was diagnosed at 39, before sadly losing his battle with cancer after it spread to his lymph nodes.

Gordon Mullen

In 2006, Gordon Mullen knew something wasn’t right in his mouth, yet he wasn't sure what.

Joe Butler

Warhammer gamer and father of four Joe was diagnosed with mouth cancer at 26.

Karen Liesching-Schroder

Karen was ‘shocked beyond belief’ to be told that a seemingly harmless mouth ulcer on her tongue was mouth cancer.

Kevin Parnham

Kevin Parnham from Risley in Derby was diagnosed with tongue cancer in 2018. Despite this, he hasn't let mouth cancer get in the way of his life.

Laura Marston

Laura was diagnosed in May 2019 with advanced stage 4 cancer in the tongue.

Laura Taylor

"Age is just a number, I’m 23 a non-smoker and don’t drink yet I still got mouth cancer, it only takes 45 seconds to check your mouth."

Paul Roebuck

Psychotherapist Paul woke up with blood in his mouth. He decided to get checked out by his dentist, who immediately knew something was seriously wrong.

Rachel Parsons

On Boxing Day, Rachel Parsons first noticed a lump in her mouth. Having heard of mouth cancer and the symptoms, she knew she needed to get checked out.

Robert Powell

After moving to France, Robert found out he had mouth cancer. He's now back in the UK and committed to raising awareness.

Sally Bragg

Sally Bragg has a very different perception of life after being diagnosed with cancer of the cheek 20 years ago.

Sarah Davies

Sarah Davies from Coventry is now cancer-free but has been left with trismus or 'lockjaw' following treatment.

Sinead Marland

When Sinead was diagnosed with mouth cancer she was a single parent of two small children.

Stephanie Leech

"I won’t lie, it was a very scary experience, BUT, and a very big BUT, it was all worth going through as I am now 11 years on from my operation and I have been able to see my grandson and granddaughter grow up"

Stephanie Wigglesworth

Dog trainer Stephanie was diagnosed with tongue cancer and now writes blog posts and uses social media to educate people on the effects.

Suwinder Singh

Suwinder, or Sid, found out he had mouth cancer after a routine check. He now wants to urge everyone to go to the dentist and get anything worrying looked at.

Read stories from those who have supported someone with mouth cancer. Click on their photos to learn more.

David Withers

David and his family supported his father when he was diagnosed with mouth cancer before it sadly took his life. Now David is dedicated to raising awareness of mouth cancer in his dad's memory.

Sarah Smith

Sarah's father, Richard, was diagnosed with stage four cancer on the floor of his mouth in 2016. Now Sarah is bravely sharing his story.

Latest

Key opinion leaders reach an evidence-based consensus on mouthwash use

A panel of leading dental experts has agreed an evidence-based consensus statement on the role of mouthwash as part of maintaining good oral health between dental appointments.
Oral Health: From Treatment to Prevention

This landmark report reflects on five decades of progress in oral health and looks ahead to the future of dentistry, prevention and public health in the UK.
Smile Month Prevention Pledge

Sign our Smile Month Prevention Pledge, to call for a healthier, fairer and more prevention-focused future.
Smile Month launches 50th campaign with nationwide Wall of Smiles celebration

The Oral Health Foundation is inviting people across the UK to share their smile and become part of a nationwide “Wall of Smiles” as Smile Month officially launches its 50th campaign today.

What to do after a tooth extraction

General advice about what to do after having teeth taken out. Includes what precautions you should take and things to avoid.
Burning mouth syndrome

Burning Mouth Syndrome can be an extremely uncomfortable condition which can have several potential causes.
Mouth ulcers

Usually red or yellow in colour, mouth ulcers are painful sores that can appear inside the mouth and also on the outer lips.
Geographic tongue

Geographic tongue is a common condition which can appear on the top and sides of the tongue, and sometimes on the under-surface.
How to spot mouth cancer

How much do you know about the signs and symptoms of mouth cancer? By being Mouthaware you can make a difference in the fight against mouth cancer.
Wisdom teeth

The wisdom teeth are the last to appear, right at the back of the mouth, often between 17 and 25 but sometime many years later.
Jaw problems and headaches

Learn about jaw issues, their causes, and treatments. Find out how bite problems impact teeth, gums, TMJ, muscles, and lead to headaches.
Cracked teeth

There are several ways in which your tooth can crack or break and it is important that you get it seen to as soon as possible.
Gum disease

Gum disease (gingivitis and periodontal disease) is swelling, soreness or infection of the tissues supporting the teeth.
Lichen planus

Lichen planus is a disease which can affect the mouth and other areas of the body. Symptoms include white patches on the inside of the cheeks.