Dental charity set for cancer focus

The charity is sending 40,000 blue ribbons to dental surgeries in a bid to raise public awareness of the disease – it claims that only 50 per cent of people have even heard of it.

Head of media Leigh Greenwood said the organisation previously focused on dental health workers, but decided to use Mouth Cancer Awareness Week (from 13 November) to target the general public.

'Much of our focus will be on women's lifestyle press, as the disease is twice as prevalent among women,' said Greenwood. 'But we will
also target national and regional press and men's consumer titles.'

The charity has prepared a range of case studies. It particularly wants to spread the message that smoking, poor diet and heavy drinking can all create ideal conditions for the disease to develop.