If you are an oral cancer survivor like me, than you have probably undergone surgery and radiation which has left you with long term stiffness in your neck, mouth and tongue.
Here are the exercises I do to maintain elasticity, mobility, and promote blood flow in my neck and mouth. It helps with the long term effects of treatment for oral cancer.
View the video on YouTube. It’s 8-minutes and you can do the exercises with me. You will need a small spoon and vitamin E oil (or coconut oil, olive oil, petroleum jelly vaseline…).
1- Neck
2-Jaw Stretch
Open as wide as possible
3-Tongue Massage
4- Chin Tucks
These are great to do just to realign your head on your spine and counter the forward hang of our heads from using our devices.
5- Resistance Training
6- External Self-Massage
Rub vitamin E oil (or coconut oil, olive oil, petroleum jelly vaseline…) all over your cheeks and neck. In place of using my fingers and knuckles to massage my jaw line, I prefer the Gua Sha stone, or you can even use something similar like the curved end of a glass jar. Massage along your lower jaw and down your neck.
If you are newly diagnosed with oral cancer, learn more here. Do not do these exercises right after surgery. Give yourself time to heal before starting to break down the scar adhesions and stimulate the tissue.
Is your dentist educating patients about the signs and symptoms of oral cancer? Check out the Six-Step Screening patient Poster and Goody Bag Cards.
If this video is helpful, please comment…and share with the oral cancer survivors in your life!
