'Love Your Mouth' Pilot

Malcolm Macdonald at the launch of 'love your mouth'!What is the North East England mouth cancer pilot?

In January 2007 Cancer Research UK’s Open Up to Mouth Cancer Campaign launched a pilot scheme in Newcastle and Gateshead. The scheme is called 'Love Your Mouth' and aims to detect oral health problems early so that they can be treated quickly.

Who is involved?

The target audience for the project includes:

Dr Ray Lowry, Senior Lecturer in Dental Sciences at Newcastle University, is running the pilot with support from the Cancer Research UK Health Campaigns team.

How will the ‘Love Your Mouth’ pilot work?

The first phase of the pilot ran from January to April 2007. The second phase ran from August 2008 to January 2009. Our campaign will encourage people to go to a participating GP, pharmacist or local health professional to collect a mouth check voucher. With this voucher they can visit participating dentists for a free mouth check.

This check has ‘no strings attached’. Dentists will not treat people for tooth decay or give advice about giving up smoking and drinking. Instead, they will check the ‘fleshy’ part of the mouth for problems including signs of mouth cancer.

Dentists will refer patients with warning signs to a mouth cancer specialist.

What support is there for health professionals?

Dentists taking part in this scheme receive special training. Cancer Research UK is also promoting the campaign in professional media.

How can I find out more?

If you have questions about the pilot then:

  • for local information call: 0779 442 0979
  • for general information call: 0800 22 62 37 (freephone).

These phone lines are open from 9.00am to 5.30pm on weekdays.

What happens after Phase Two?

This is a pilot scheme so to begin with we are only running it for a short time. We will keep records of how many people collect and use mouth check vouchers. Evaluation of the pilot campaign has now been completed.