November is Mouth Cancer Action Month and the Oral Health Foundation is asking dental professionals to show their support and help save lives by raising vital awareness of mouth cancer.

Mouth Cancer Action Month aims to reduce the amount of lives claimed by the disease and make a difference by promoting the importance of early detection and prevention. The campaign hopes to get more mouth cancers diagnosed at an early stage by educating people on the risk factors, signs and symptoms; while also encouraging the public to discuss them with their dental professional.

Like many cancers early detection makes such a vital difference to a person's chance of survival; in terms of mouth cancer early detection can dramatically increase the chances of survival to 90% from 50%.

In 2016, more than 2,000 dental organisations supported Mouth Cancer Action Month through education of patients and local people about this devastating disease, alongside the huge benefits of good oral health for our overall health.

Dr Nigel Carter OBE, CEO of the Oral Health Foundation, said: 'The good news is that we, and you, on the frontline of the profession are in the perfect position to do something about it; by pledging your support you can help raise awareness amongst your patients and in your local community.

'We remain enormously thankful and humbled by the continued support shown by the dental community for an increasingly important cause.'

To find out how you can get involved in Mouth Cancer Action Month 2017 visit www.mouthcancer.org for inspiration on what you can do to spread awareness.