“A white or red patch that won’t go away–it may be on the tongue, palate, gums, inner cheek or lip–may be a sign of oral cancer,” says Sharona Dayan, MD, board certified periodontist and owner of Aurora Periodontontal Care in Beverly Hills, California. “If it persists for more than three weeks, be sure to see your dentist or physician.”

The Rx: “To catch oral cancer early, be sure to see your dentist twice a year and ask if a routine cancer exam is part of the cleaning visit,” says Dayan.

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