A new study investigating awareness of mouth cancer in the UK has revealed a startling lack of awareness when it comes to the disease and one of its leading causes, the human papillomavirus (HPV).

Research carried out by the Oral Health Foundation found that as little as three in 20 (15%) British adults recognise HPV, the world's most common sexually-transmitted infection, to be a cause of mouth cancer.1

The report also showed that more than two in three (67%) are unaware of oral sex increasing a person's mouth cancer risk by sexually transmitting the HPV virus.

During the next decade, HPV is expected to overtake smoking and excessive alcohol consumption as the leading cause of mouth cancer.

With many unable to assess their own level of risk, Dr Nigel Carter OBE, Chief Executive of the Oral Health Foundation, is concerned this may lead to a growing number of mouth cancers being diagnosed too late: 'Almost every sexually active person will contract HPV as some point during their life. For most people, HPV is completely harmless and will not result in any symptoms or health problems. More often than not, it will lay dormant and then it will simply be thrown off, before the person even knows they have been infected.

'In some cases, however, HPV can lead to mouth cancer.'

The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that there are more than 600 million cases of HPV infection worldwide.

There are now in excess of 7,500 new cases of mouth cancer in the UK a year, a figure which has increased by more than two-thirds (68%) in the last 20 years.2

An early diagnosis of mouth cancer increases a person's chance of survival from 50% to 90%.

November is Mouth Cancer Action Month and the Oral Health Foundation is encouraging people to be Mouthaware by regularly checking for unusual changes to the mouth, lips, head and neck. The charity has developed a full guide to mouth cancer self-examination3 and ask those who discover anything suspicious to contact their dentist or doctor immediately.

HPV Action, a collaborate partnership of 49 patient and professional organisations, is currently campaigning for gender neutral HPV vaccination.