Staff, patients and visitors at Queen’s Hospital were able to find out about the warning signs of mouth cancer.

North East London Foundatuion Trust (NELFT) held an oral health event in the foyer at the hospital in Rom Valley Way, Romford.

Jeanette Shaw, from NELFT oral health promotion manager said: “Poor oral health can affect a person’s quality of life.

“Oral pain, missing teeth or oral infections can influence the way a person speaks, eats and socialises.

“These oral helath problems can reduce a person’s quality of life by affecting their physical, mental and social well-being.”

The event, whichh was part of national National Mouth Cancer Action Month, saw the Oral Health Promotion Team giving advice on the stop smoking service.

Visitors learned how to reduce their own risk if they stopped smoking, drank alcohol in moderation and ate a healthy diet.

There are 5,000 of mouth case every year in the UK, with close to 2,000 deaths as a result.

The World Health Organisation has also warned people against smoking a shisa water pope, which can be as harmful as smoking 100 cigarettes.

Residents can also get the chance to attend another mouth cancer awareness event in the foyer of the hospital on Thursday November 22 from 10am.