'Action speaks louder than words' is the message as Britain's leading oral health charity stages a November spotlight on a hidden killer disease.

Mouth Cancer Action Week takes place November 16 to 22, as the campaign organisers the British Dental Health Foundation takes a new, positive stance against the disease.

The new Action Week replaces the former Mouth Cancer Awareness Week name, as the Foundation and health professionals across the land take action a disease which kills more people than cervical and testicular cancer combined. Yet a fifth of the UK population remain unaware of mouth cancer.

Nearly 5,000 are diagnosed with mouth cancer in annually. Mortality figures have remained above 1,500 deaths per year for a decade. Mouth cancer kills one person every five hours in the UK.

The Foundation's Blue Ribbon Badge campaign will continue to promote awareness by sending badges and collection boxes to dental practises, 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'.

Easily recognisable symptoms and regular check ups can boost survival rates to 90 per cent with early detection. Survival rates once mouth cancer has spread are as low as 50 per cent.

Foundation chief executive Dr Nigel Carter BDS LDS (RCS) said: "Our slogan, 'if in doubt, get checked out' reinforces our call to action. We are encouraging the public and the health profession to wear their Blue Ribbons with pride, and not only talk about the mouth cancer but take positive steps."

He continued: "Action can be as simple as visiting the dentist regularly to 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.

Links have now been found between oral sex and mouth cancer.