Oral cancer is highly preventable and regular dental checkups may detect early warning signs of the disease. For
Mouth Cancer Action Month, we're encouraging you to make, and keep, those regular dentist appointments to help reduce your risk of oral cancer. There are things you can do to reduce your risk and be aware of potential problems.
Risk Factors
Tobacco Use
Excessive Alcohol Consumption
Excessive alcohol consumption may also increase your risk. The American Cancer Society's recommendation to reduce your risk of oral cancer is to consume no more than one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men.
Poor Oral Health
Engaging in poor oral hygiene by not taking care of your teeth and gums, along with not getting enough vitamin A (found in fruits and vegetables) in your diet, may increase your oral cancer risk.
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Infection
HPV, the world's most common sexually-transmitted virus, is expected to become the leading cause of oral cancers.
Warning Signs
If you drink to excess or use tobacco products, you may want to pay attention to the early warning signs of oral cancer:
- Sores that don't seem to heal
- Red and white patches on the tongue or in the mouth
- Unexplained swelling in the mouth, head or neck
Help Prevent Oral Cancer
If you engage in behaviors that increase your risk, it's important that you visit your dentist for regular checkups and consider getting vaccinated for HPV. Dentists are trained to do more than clean your teeth – they are often the ones who detect and diagnose problems in the mouth early on.
