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The tumour in Ray's jaw was diagnosed only after he paid to see a dentist privately

By Ruth Green

BBC News

Lack of access to dentists is costing lives because mouth cancers are not being spotted or treated early enough, a health charity has told BBC News.

The disease killed more than 3,000 people in 2021 - up 46%, from 2,075 a decade ago, latest figures obtained by the Oral Health Foundation show.

And last year, a BBC News investigation revealed 90% of UK NHS dental practices were not accepting new adult patients.

The government has announced plans to increase dental-training places by 40%.

It also said the NHS was treating more people for cancer at an earlier stage than ever before.

Aggressive tumour

Ray Glendenning, 64, thought a very painful swelling in his jaw was being caused by one of his teeth - but he did not have an NHS dentist.

When he began to find it difficult to open his mouth, he tried to find one and book an emergency appointment.

"I must have tried for a week, phoning two or three dentists a day," he says.