See your dentist
You probably don’t associate the dentist with preventing cancer, but regular checkups can help spot anything unusual going on in your mouth or throat. ‘Unfortunately, there are no good screening techniques for cancer of the throat and mouth,’ says Robert D. Burk, MD, a specialist in head and neck cancers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
‘Nevertheless, dentists and other health-care providers can exam the oral cavity for masses and lesions.’ In addition, studies have shown that poor oral hygiene is a risk factor for head and neck cancer, so brush and floss daily. The National Cancer Institute recommends checking in with your dentist or doctor if you have a mouth sore that won’t heal, a sore throat or hoarseness that doesn’t go away, or difficulty swallowing.
