Oral Cancer Rates Are Rising—Here’s How to Lower Your Risk

Wondering how to avoid oral cancer or reduce your risk? We explain how regular dental exams and screenings can help.

Oral Cancer Rates Are Rising—Here’s How to Lower Your Risk

Yes, it’s true—oral cancer rates in the U.S. have been rising, and the number of new cases grew significantly in 2024. Oral cancer is a dangerous and deadly disease, and dentists are often the first to notice the signs. When you go in for your twice-a-year exams, your dentist will perform a visual screening for oral cancer. But to keep yourself safe, you also need to identify your risk factors and learn how to avoid oral cancer.

Who is at risk for developing oral cancer, and why?

        • Men have double the risk compared to women.
        • People over the age of 40 have a higher risk than young adults. 
        • Smokers have a 10x higher risk than non-tobacco users.
        • Those diagnosed with HPV are also at risk. 
        • Individuals with compromised immune systems have a slight increased risk. The National Institute of Health says systematic immunosuppression should be considered a risk for developing oral cancer, however it only increases the chances by about 1%. 

 

How to Avoid Oral Cancer

Here are some habits you can form to help reduce your risk of oral cancer: 

          1. Always keep your scheduled dental checkups. Dentists are usually the first to notice unusual growths or abnormalities in your mouth. 
          2. Limit your alcohol use. Heavy drinking is a risk factor for developing oral cancer and throat cancer. 
          3. Get vaccinated for HPV if you haven’t yet. One theory for the recent spike in oral cancer is that it’s related to the increase in HPV cases. 
          4. Cancer of the lips can be avoided by consciously protecting them from UV light. Wear an SPF lip balm and limit the amount of time spent outside when ultraviolet rays from the sun are at their strongest (mid-morning to mid-afternoon). 
          5. Maintain a well-rounded diet that includes a lot of whole foods.
          6. Quit smoking. Smokers have a 10x higher risk for developing oral cancer. Give up tobacco products altogether for the best results. 

 

We’ve heard people ask if it’s possible to avoid the risk of oral cancer without quitting the habit of smoking cigarettes. Let’s answer that and discuss tobacco use in relation to oral cancer in a bit more detail.

Can you avoid oral cancer while smoking?

It is rare, but if you are one of the lucky ones, it’s possible. However, the risk is too great to gamble on. According to the American Lung Association, cigarettes are the cause of about 90% of all lung cancers

Smoking increases your risk for additional types of cancer as well. Pipe smokers and cigar users are also at risk, even when not inhaling smoke. Chewing tobacco is dangerous as well—it is known to have more than 25 cancer-causing chemicals

Get an oral cancer screening at Sun Lakes Dentistry

The best way to avoid oral cancer is to keep up on your healthy habits. This includes managing your weight, exercising regularly, and eating whole foods. If you suspect you may have symptoms of oral cancer, get it checked out immediately. Oral cancer is one of the swiftest, deadliest types of cancer. The sooner you can get treatment, the better your chances of making a full recovery.

At Saba and Chiappetti Dental Associates our comprehensive dental care includes  regular oral cancer screenings for seniors and adults. If you live in the Sun Lakes area, please make an appointment to come see us for a checkup, cleaning, and screening. We look forward to helping you.

 

Images used under creative commons license—commercial use (12.20.2024). Image by PDPics from Pixabay. Cropped the right side of image.