Tongue ‘n Gauze

Pull out the tongue with gauze, visually examine it for any swelling, ulceration or variation in size, color or texture.
Gently run your index finger along the lateral borders to feel for any hard tissue.

Lip & Cheek Roll

Roll the tissue of the buccal mucosa and lips between your fingers noting any firm or nodular areas.

Pull the upper and lower lips out completely, examining the labial mucosa and sulcus of the maxillary vestibule and frenum, and the mandibular vestibule.

Examine both sides of the buccal mucosa. Check for change in color and texture.

Don’t forget to move your mirror.

Double-Digit Probe

Visually examine the floor of the mouth and palpate it bimanually with a gloved finger beneath the tongue and another under the chin on the exterior skin.

Palate Tickle

Check the hard and soft palate visually and palpate with your finger.

Neck Caress

Roll tissue over the edge of the mandible.

Have your patient turn his head to the side and look down to make the Sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM) stand out. Roll the soft tissue of the neck over the SCM.

Palpate the tissue around the Adams apple.

Tonsil Ahhhhhh

Take a good look at the tonsils and the back of the throat. Check for asymmetry, ulceration, or redness.

Examine the retromolar pads and all of the adjacent tissue.

Ask your patient if they have experienced any hoarseness, voice changes, or pain.