Its Mouth Cancer Action Month

November is Mouth Cancer Action Month, with the British Dental Health Foundation and the dentists Manchester city centre has on its books, as well as those around the UK, campaigning to raise awareness of the disease and save lives through early detection and prevention.

The disease kills over 2,000 people each year in the UK, with over 6,700 diagnosed with mouth cancer in 2013 alone. In fact, it is one of the few cancers that is predicted to increase in prevalence in the future, having grown by one-third in the last ten years.

To help drive awareness, the campaigners are encouraging people to take part in the Blue Lip Selfie scheme, taking photos of themselves wearing blue lips or using blue lipstick and uploading photos of themselves onto social media sites using the hashtag #bluelipselfie. A pair of blue lips can be purchased for £2.50 from the Mouth Cancer Action Month shop on its website.

If you’re concerned, go to your dentist and ask them to check you out for signs of the disease. They will search for any swelling, lumps or bumps on just one side of the face and check your neck for lumps or tenderness as well. They will also be on the lookout for any sores or colour changes in your lips and feel around for bumps or differences in texture.

They can also check your tongue out for changes in texture or colour and any swelling or ulcers, before looking at the floor of your mouth to see if there are any changes in colour there as well.