A DENTAL practice is offering more than the usual scale and polish after launching free oral cancer screenings.

The iniative at Glen Lyon Dental Practice, Whalley Road, Acrington, is running the scheme in support of Mouth Cancer Action Month.

The campaign, which has been organised by The British Dental Health Foundation and Denplan, and is symbolised by a blue ribbon, calls upon dentists and all healthcare professionals to spread the campaign message: “If in doubt, get checked out”.

Every five hours someone dies from mouth cancer in the UK.

Statistics from Cancer Research UK show that 5,325 new cases were diagnosed in 2006, more than cervical and testicular cancers combined and an increase of 41 per cent over the last decade.

Yet specialists are concerned that not everybody has heard of the disease.

Mark Wilkinson, dental surgeon and proprietor at the surgery near Accrington Victoria Hospital, checks all his patients as a matter of routine every six months.

He said: “We're looking for ulcers that don't heal, unexplained lumps and bumps or red patches and white patches than can all be the early signs of mouth cancer.

“They can be quite subtle changes but early detection transforms survival chances to more than 90 per cent.

“If there is anything we are worried about we have a very good relationship with the local hospital and they will get somebody seen within two weeks. If it's more urgent we can even get them seen that afternoon.”

Mark qualified as a dentist in 1983 and has been working in Accrington for 20 years.

To book your free oral cancer screening call the team on 01254 232518.

For more information on mouth cancer, visit www.mouthcancer.org.