Understanding Oral Cancer Risk Factors

By R.S. Mayberry, DDS

Mayberry Dental

. https://www.mayberrydental.com/

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Understanding Oral Cancer Risk Factors

An oral cancer risk factor is anything that may affect the likelihood of developing the disease. Some people may have one or more of these risk factors and never develop oral cancer. However, in rare cases, the disease may develop without a person having any known oral cancer risk factors. Nonetheless, understanding the risk factors is an important part of managing your health and well-being.

About 90 percent of oral cancers develop in the lining of the mouth, in thin, flat cells called squamous cells. The inside of the mouth comes into direct contact with many of the substances that we ingest or inhale.

Tobacco, a known carcinogen, may harm or damage the cells in the mouth when it is inhaled as smoke or consumed in other forms, like snuff or chew. According to the American Cancer Society, nearly 90 percent of all oral cancers are related to some form of tobacco use. Other substances, like alcohol, when consumed on a frequent basis, may also pose a risk.

The combination of tobacco and alcohol is thought to raise the risk 100 times over for those who smoke and drink compared to those who do neither. The drinking and smoking habits of men may be linked to an increased incidence of oral cancer in men as compared to women.

Aside from quitting smoking and drinking in moderation, eating a diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables may decrease the risk of developing oral cancer.

Risk Factors for Oral Cancer

The known risk factors for oral cancer are

Tobacco use (smoking cigarettes or cigars, chewing tobacco, and other forms), drinking alcohol frequently, poor nutrition and vitamin deficiencies, human papilloma virus (HPV) infection.

In addition to the known risk factors of oral cancer, there are also pre-cancerous conditions that can develop into cancer.

Potentially pre-cancerous conditions include

Leukoplakia (white spots in the
mouth)

Erythroplakia (red spots in the
mouth that are sometimes raised and
easily bleed)

Erythroleukoplakia (a combination
of both red and white spots)

Oral Cancer Symptoms

Oral cancer may develop in the moist mucosae (tissues) lining the mouth including the gums (gingiva), the space between the wisdom teeth (retromolar trigone), or the inner lining of the cheeks (buccal mucosa). Early on, the cancer may begin on the surface of the tissues, causing seemingly superficial symptoms, such as changes in the appearance of the inside of the mouth.

As the cancer develops, it may begin to grow deeper into the tissues and, as this happens, other physical changes may become more pronounced. The symptoms may differ from person to person depending on several factors, including the type of cancer or the location in the mouth where the cancer originated. For example, teeth may become loose or dentures may not fit properly if the cancer develops in the gums.

Symptoms may be subtle, like small white or red patches on the gums, tongue, or lining of the mouth. In other cases, some people experience noticeable pain or swelling. Often, however, there are no obvious symptoms.