A NEW dental technology is helping tackle the rising number of mouth cancer cases.

Glasgow-based Visage Lifestyle Clinic, of Miller Street, has invested thousands of pounds in the VEL-scope, a hand-held non-invasive device, to help discover the killer oral diseases, including cancer and pre-cancer.

Practice director Dr Attiq Rahman said: "Mouth cancer kills more people each year than cervical cancer and testicular cancer combined. The VEL-scope facilitates the discovery of abnormalities in the mouth well before they become visible under ordinary light."

Research found Scotland has the UK's highest incidence rates of mouth cancer – 11.9 cases per 100,000 people.