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That’s the question posed by The Worcestershire Community Dental Services (WCDS) as they support the charity campaign to raise awareness for mouth cancer. Staff are urging residents to be more mouth aware and recognise the early warning signs of mouth cancer as part of November’s Mouth Cancer Action Month.

Mouth Cancer Action Month takes place throughout November and is organised by the Oral Health Foundation. Last year, 8,722 people in the UK were diagnosed with mouth cancer. The number of new cases has doubled in the last 20 years, making it one of the UK’s fastest increasing cancers.

With awareness of the disease remaining alarmingly low, WCDS are encouraging people to take 45 seconds to do a self-check of their face and mouth to identify anything unusual and then seek professional guidance.

Early diagnosis transforms chances of beating mouth cancer from 50 percent to 90 percent, so it is crucial to know what to look out for and not to hesitate in seeking advice from a health professional.

Check for;

• A mouth ulcer that does not heal within three weeks
• Red or white patches in the mouth 
• Unusual lumps or swellings in the mouth or head and neck area

These can all be potential signs of mouth cancer so it’s important to be aware of any changes occurring inside your mouth. Most people will spend at least a few minutes every day in front of a mirror brushing their teeth so while there, have a quick look inside the mouth. If you notice anything out of the ordinary, speak to a dentist or a doctor.

Georgia Owen, Oral Health Promotion Officer, Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust said: "It is so important that people over 18 years of age regularly check for mouth cancer. Early detection gives the best chance of beating the disease and it only takes 45 seconds to do a self-check".

To find out more information about mouth cancer and Mouth Cancer Action Month, please visit www.mouthcancer.org.