How to Lower the Risk of Oral Cancer

It is Oral Cancer Awareness Month which means it’s a good time to learn about how to lower the risk of Oral Cancer.  Lowering your risk of oral cancer can be done by following these simple steps.

• Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables so you can be sure that you’re getting enough nutrients which can help reduce your chances of getting cancer. Plus getting enough healthy nutritious fruits and vegetables in your body can help you build and maintain your immune system.
• When cooking your vegetables don’t overcook them so much that all the key nutrients get removed from the vegetable itself. It’s okay to eat some vegetables that are a bit raw. Also if you want to be healthier when it comes to eating vegetables, you might want to bake, boil or steam them rather than frying them in oil.
• Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol can cause irritation in your mouth plus in general, drinking too much isn’t good for your overall health either.
• It’s important that you visit your dentist regularly (twice a year). By visiting your dentist, not only will they clean your teeth but they will also check all around the insides of your mouth to see if there are any signs of cancer forming.
• In addition to visiting the dentist, you should also pay close attention to any changes in your mouth. One suggestion for you would be to check your mouth yourself from time to time. You can check your mouth in a mirror and look around the mouth and see if you notice anything on your tongue, gums, inside cheeks and lips. If you notice anything that looks strange to you then it would be advisable for you to go see your dentist.
• If you don’t smoke or use any form of tobacco then you this doesn’t apply to you. Only if you smoke then it’s important that you stop smoking. Doesn’t matter how long you’ve smoked, the important thing is to stop smoking immediately. Not only will your mouth thank you but so will your body.
• Lastly, one of the most important things that you could do for your teeth is to make sure that you’re cleaning them twice a day as well as after you eat. This means that you should be brushing, flossing and rinsing twice a day and if you aren’t able to clean after each meal at least be sure to rinse your mouth with water.

If you use the above list as a guide on lowering your chances of getting oral cancer then you should be just fine. However, should you have further concerns or questions regarding lowering the risk of oral cancer, please speak with your dentist or your doctor.