You know that during a visit the dentist assesses the condition of your mouth and looks for caries, but you may not know that the doctor is also looking for cancer. It is estimated that about 51,540 people would be diagnosed with cancer of the mouth, esophagus, tonsils or the back of the tongue in 2018.
Regular visits to the dentist will help detect cancer early, along with the harmful habits that cause it. Removing irritating factors may reduce the chance of it developing.
Sex
Men are twice as likely as women to develop oral cancer. The American Cancer Society believes this is linked to more frequent tobacco and alcohol use.
Age
Most people diagnosed with oral cancer are 55 or older.
Tobacco
Whether you smoke or chew tobacco, this harmful habit greatly increases the risk of cancer, both in the mouth and in other parts of the body.
Smoking is also a risk factor for lip cancer. Smokeless tobacco, such as chewing tobacco, leads to many types of damage in the mouth.
The most serious are cancers of the cheeks, gums and lips.
Alcohol
Among patients with oral cancer, 7 out of 10 drink alcohol frequently.
Frequent drinking is defined as, on average, 2 or more drinks a day for men and 1 or more drinks a day for women. This has been established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
If you are both a heavy drinker and a smoker, your chances of developing cancer increase significantly.
Human papillomavirus
Papillomavirus is a DNA virus that belongs to the sexually transmitted diseases. Every year in the United States there are 9,000 cases in which papillomavirus is linked to head and neck cancers (especially on the back of the tongue and around the tongue).
People with this diagnosis are mostly non-smokers and young.
Sunlight
People who work outdoors and spend long periods in the sun are more likely to develop lip cancer and should always carry sun protection.
Diet
Poor nutrition can also cause oral cancer. Diets low in fruit and vegetables can increase the chance of oral cancer developing. That is why we recommend a varied diet.
