Who's a Candidate for Dentures?
Dentures are an ideal tooth replacement option for anyone with numerous gaps in their smile — including those who’ve lost all their teeth. Learn more here.
Common Risk Factors of Oral Cancer
Oral cancer affects tissues around your oral cavity, including your lips, the inside of your lips or cheeks, the hard, bony upper roof of your mouth, the floor, and your tongue. And oral cancer can also harm your teeth and gums. Cancer that develops in your upper throat, closely related, is known as oropharyngeal cancer.
Are you at risk for oral or oropharyngeal cancer? At Goodman Dental Center, Dr. Brian Goodman, Dr. Tanner Goodman, and our team of oral care experts provide cancer screenings that can detect signs of oral cancer early.
We also help our patients from around the Queen Creek, Arizona, area understand more about risk factors that make you more likely to develop oral cancer. Here’s what you need to know.
In addition to screening for oral cancer, it’s helpful to understand where you uniquely stand regarding your risk for oral cancer. When you know your risks, you can make the right choices for your health going forward.
Common causes of oral cancer
Several factors impact your likelihood of developing oral cancer. Some of those factors can’t be controlled, while others can be modified and reduced with the right changes, treatments, and approaches.
Uncontrollable risk factors
Factors that increase your risk of oral cancer and are out of your control include:
- Your gender, as men are at higher risk than women
- Your age, with your risk of oral and oropharyngeal cancer increasing as you get older
If you have any of these risk factors for oral cancer, you need to get screened regularly, as these aren’t factors that you can change to lower your risk.
Modifiable risk factors
The good news is many of the significant risk factors for these types of cancer relate to lifestyle choices that you can modify and change. With the proper support, you can reduce the impact of these risky behaviors on your health. These include:
- Regular tobacco use in the form of cigarettes, chewing tobacco, or snuff
- Heavy alcohol use, especially when accompanied by tobacco use
- Betel quid (a Southeast Asian chew product) use
- Gutka (betel quid with added tobacco) use
Extended ultraviolet (UV) light exposure also increases your risk of skin cancer affecting your lips.
Health-related risk factors
In some cases, your oral cancer risk goes up as a result of other health issues you may be having. Health conditions that increase your risk of oral cancer include:
- Human papillomavirus (HPV), often transmitted sexually
- Autoimmune disorders that weaken your immune system
You should know that medications that suppress your immune system also heighten your health risks, including your risk of developing oral cancer.
Benefits of screening for oral cancer
As with many other types of cancer, regular screening is your best bet for easy treatment, remission, and continuing long-term health.
Screening for oral cancer isn’t complicated and is a part of your preventive care routine with Goodman Dental Center. If you show signs of oral or oropharyngeal cancer, further testing confirms your diagnosis and lets you start treatment as soon as possible.
No matter why you’re concerned about oral cancer, talk to the team at Goodman Dental Center about the proper screening and prevention plan for you. You can schedule an appointment by calling now or requesting an appointment online.
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