Oral cancer can make brushing impossible, and that’s okay – the main goal is getting patients through their treatment

Every oral cancer patient is different. Some have no tongue, no nose, or parts of their jaw removed. Yet we meet them where they are and support them however you can.

“The days vary hugely, but the work is always deeply meaningful,” adds Joss Harding, dental hygienist and president-elect of the Mouth Cancer Foundation.

In the first part of our interview for Mouth Cancer Awareness Month, Joss focused on the role of oral health professionals in cancer awareness and prevention. In this second part, we dive into caring for patients who have already been diagnosed.

You’ll find out why dental care is so crucial, how nutrition plays a role, the must-dos (and what’s absolutely off-limits), and what a typical day looks like for a dental hygienist working with these patients.