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my dentist checked me for oral cancer - here's how it went down
Had a dentist appointment last week and they did this quick check for oral cancer. Basically, they looked inside my mouth, under the tongue, gums, cheeks, all that stuff. Took maybe 2 mins tops. They said to watch out for weird lumps or sores that don’t heal. Seems simple enough, but um, anyone got tips or ways to do a self-check at home? Curious if there's like a better way than just poking around randomly in there...
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My kid's dentist showed us a trick - use a small flashlight and mirror to get a better look inside your mouth. Makes it easier to spot anything unusual. Still feels kinda awkward, but beats randomly poking around, y'know?
The useful thing to watch for is a sore that doesn’t heal, a red or white patch, a lump, or a change in how an area feels. If something like that sticks around for about two weeks, get it checked by a dentist or doctor rather than trying to diagnose it yourself. A home check can help you notice a change, but it can’t rule out oral cancer.
The mirror won’t show everything: with clean hands, gently feel under your jaw and along both sides of your neck, comparing one side with the other for a new lump or swelling. That can help you notice a change, but it can’t tell you what caused it, so have anything new or concerning checked by a dentist or doctor.