VITAL advice is to be featured on millions of toothpaste tubes and mouthwash bottles encouraging people to contact their GP or dentist if they notice any potential symptoms of mouth cancer.
The guidance comes as part of a new partnership between the NHS and Asda, with the guidance to be clearly displayed on the packaging along with a link to more detailed information about mouth and throat cancer.
The aim of the partnership is to raise awareness of symptoms that could indicate cancer, such as an ulcer that lasts for three weeks or more, and encourage people to contact their GP or dental practice and get checked as early as possible.
Professor Peter Johnson, national clinical director for cancer at NHS England, said, “Early detection of mouth cancer can help save lives and this fantastic new partnership with Asda will be vital in raising awareness of the signs and in supporting the NHS’s ambition to diagnose more cancers at an earlier stage.
“By placing health messaging on products like toothpaste tubes and mouthwash bottles that people use every day, we’re encouraging people to be vigilant about potential symptoms of mouth cancer and to get checked early.
“Like many other cancers, mouth cancers have a much better prognosis if found early – raising awareness is a crucial step, and while many of these symptoms won’t be caused by cancer, we’d encourage anyone with any concerns to come forward and contact their dentist or GP.”
Sam Dickson, Asda VP for commercial strategy, operations, and own brand, added, “We’re proud to launch this collaboration with the NHS by putting mouth and throat cancer awareness on our own brand oral hygiene products including mouthwash and toothpaste.
“Asda sells over 2 million of these everyday items each year, so making this small change to our packaging means we can make a big difference in encouraging shoppers to be more aware and to highlight what they should do if they find any new or unexplained changes.”
