Two people die every week in Ireland from cancer of the mouth and cases of the disease appear to be on the increase, experts have warned.

They are calling on people to avail of free mouth cancer examinations, which will take place at more than 500 dental surgeries next week to mark Mouth Cancer Awareness Day.

Speaking ahead of the event, Dr Claire Healy, a consultant at the Dublin Dental University Hospital in Trinity College, said that the incidence of this disease is rising throughout Europe.

"This is clearly seen in UK figures and there has been a significant increase in the incidence of mouth cancer in Irish women in recent years. Up until now this was a disease of older people, now we are seeing more cases in young people," she warned.

Currently in Ireland, around 300 new cases are diagnosed and 100 people die from the disease every year.

"If you smoke and drink, the chances of you getting oral cancer are up to 40 times greater. However the lack of risk factors does not preclude oral cancer diagnosis. Whatever the cause, the key point to remember is that early detection saves lives," Dr Healy said.

According to the National Cancer Registry in Ireland, around half of all mouth cancer cases are diagnosed when they are already at an advanced stage. This can mean that more complex treatment is required and it also affects overall quality of life and survival rates.

Currently, less than half of people diagnosed with cancer of the mouth or pharynx survive for more than five years. However, if the disease is caught early enough, the chances of a good outcome rise significantly.

According to Dr Conor McAlister of the Irish Dental Association (IDA), a major sign of mouth cancer is a sore or ulcer that does not heal within three weeks.

"Other signs are white or red patches inside the mouth, a lump in the mouth or neck or a persistent sore throat or hoarseness. If you or someone you know hasn't visited the dentist in a long time, we would urge you to come along and bring your friend or family member for an exam on Mouth Cancer Awareness Day," he said.

This is the fifth year of this annual campaign and since 2010, 22 cases of mouth cancer have been diagnosed as a result of people attending free examinations on Mouth Cancer Awareness Day.

This year's event takes place on Wednesday, September 17, and people can view a list of the country's participating dental surgeries here. Cases of concern will be referred on to the Cork University Dental School and Hospital or the Dublin Dental University Hospital for further management.

Mouth Cancer Awareness Day is a joint initiative by the Irish Dental Association, the Irish Cancer Society, the Cork Dental University Hospital, the Dublin Dental University Hospital, the Dental Health Foundation and Mouth, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Ireland. For more informaiton on the disease, click here