"If in doubt, get checked out" is the message behind a health campaign to cut the number of mouth cancer deaths.

Mouth Cancer Awareness Week runs from Sunday until next Saturday and campaign co-ordinators, the British Dental Health Foundation, is urging the public to look out for early symptoms.

Treated in its early stages mouth cancer is curable in nine out of 10 cases, but left later it kills about one in two people.

To back the campaign oral health teams from Bradford and Airedale Teaching Primary Care Trust and the Maxillo Facial Unit at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust are doing their bit to alert patients to watch out for signs of mouth cancer.

Leaflets and posters have been sent to all doctors, dentists and pharmacists throughout the district.

They are also urging all health professionals to watch out for the signs of mouth cancer to ensure early diagnosis.

There will be an information stand in the Kirkgate Centre, Bradford, on Monday between 9.30am and 4.00pm and people can drop in for a free mouth cancer check-up at the Maxillofacial Unit, in the Horton Wing of St Luke's Hospital on Thursday between 2pm and 4pm and also on Tuesday, November 21, between 9.30am and 11am.

Lynn Owen, senior oral health promotion officer with Bradford and Airedale Teaching PCT, said: "Mouth cancer can be cured as long as it is caught early enough but people need to be made more aware of the symptoms.

"If you have a mouth ulcer that hasn't healed after three weeks, or you notice any unusual changes in your mouth you should visit your dentist as soon as possible for an examination.

"One of the most important ways of reducing your chance of getting this disease is by adopting a healthy lifestyle which includes stopping use of tobacco products, drinking alcohol sensibly, having good eating habits and visiting your dentist regularly."

Divya Keshani, associate specialist in oral and maxillofacial surgery at Bradford Teaching Hospitals, said: "Our staff are totally committed to treating patients with mouth cancer and we have a team that is specific-ally trained to manage these patients.

"We look forward to seeing as many patients as possible during these open access clinics."

e-mail: claire.lomax@bradford.newsquest.co.uk