Palo Alto Dentist Dr. Zahra Hakim Articles & Blog

Oral Cancer

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This beautiful spring month is oral cancer awareness month. That’s right; it’s time to make our mouth a priority. When we think of cancer we don’t normally think of it in the mouth, however the problem is very prevalent these days. Dentists and other oral health care professionals are often the first ones to notice any such symptoms; but what can you look out for, and how can you help prevent the cancer from invading your body?

There are a few symptoms that a person can look out for. Patches on the inside of your mouth that can be either white, a mixture of white and red, or just red are just one to look out for. Another symptom can be a sore in your mouth or on your lip that won’t heal. If your mouth is bleeding or you notice loose teeth, or even pain when swallowing, you might want to go see your doctor.

Oral cancer is a problem but don’t fret there are ways of preventing the cancer. Always take care to follow good oral hygiene habits. That means brushing and flossing your teeth twice a day, this will help keep your immune system up. Another preventative measure is to quit smoking (or chew) any tobacco product, tobacco is your mouths’ number one enemy. There are multitudes of ways to prevent this disease from coming in to your body, but it all comes down to whether or not you are dedicated to your mouth.

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