This year's Mouth Cancer Action Week carried the message 'Action speaks louder than words'. The event, which took place this week, took a new, positive stance against the disease according to campaign organisers the British Dental Health Foundation.

The new Action Week replaces the former Mouth Cancer Awareness Week name, and the Foundation's Blue Ribbon Badge campaign will continue to promote awareness by sending badges and collection boxes to dental practices, doctor's surgeries, pharmacies and health centres across the country. Badges will then be sold to the public, raising funds and promoting the campaign.

A key message is retained from previous campaigns – 'If in doubt, get checked out'. According to the Foundation, easily recognisable symptoms and regular check-ups can boost survival rates to 90% with early detection. Survival rates once mouth cancer has spread are as low as 50%.

Foundation chief executive Dr Nigel Carter said that action could be as simple as visiting the dentist regularly, or making lifestyle choices such as quitting smoking or drinking in moderation. 'Early detection of mouth cancer can save lives, so people should look out for non-healing ulcers, red and white patches in the mouth, or unusual changes in the mouth. Common causes are smoking, chewing tobacco, drinking to excess and poor diets and links have now been found between oral sex and mouth cancer.' For more information visit the Foundations web page http://www.mouthcancer.org.