Oral Cancer: Strategies for Prevention

Oral cancer can affect all areas of the mouth, including the gums, lips and tongue. Some risk factors for oral cancer such as age, genetics and gender (men are at higher risk) are beyond your control. However, other factors including lifestyle choices like smoking, diet and UV light exposure also increase the risk of oral cancer.
Oral cancer constitutes around 3% of all cancers. It is therefore important to recognize the symptoms of this cancer. These include:

• white or red patches in the mouth
• lumps, patches, or sores in the throat
• numb tongue
• bleeding
• jaw problems or swelling
• persistent sore throat
• trouble chewing
• ear pain

The earlier oral cancer is diagnosed and treated, the better the outlook for recovery.

Reducing the Risk of Oral Cancer

How we live our lives can influence the risk of cancer. The following are six ways that can help with the prevention of oral cancer.

1. Quit Smoking

Smoking has been linked to cancers throughout the body, including oral cancer. Indeed, smoking is regarded as the number one contributing risk factor for oral cancer. It is estimated that someone who smokes is between 5 to 10 times more at risk from oral cancer than a non-smoker. The heavier the smoker, the more that risk increases.

Smokeless tobacco and e-cigarettes also place you at an increased risk of oral cancer. This is because, as with tobacco-based products, they contain carcinogenic chemicals. Cancer of the mouth, throat, or lips can spread to other parts of the body.

Quitting smoking is not simple. Nicotine is an addictive chemical that you begin to crave. Your dentist can refer you to a service that can help you quit smoking. A strong support network of family and friends will also prove invaluable.

2. Limit Alcohol Consumption

Alcohol is another lifestyle choice that increases your risk of oral cancer. Even a moderate drinker can see their risk of mouth or throat cancer double. This rises to five times the risk for heavy drinkers.

Those who drink alcohol and also smoke see this risk increase further. When you drink alcohol it can impact the lining of your mouth, placing the oral cavity at more risk of exposure to the carcinogenic chemicals inhaled when smoking.

Again, it is not always easy for someone to reduce their alcohol consumption. The pressure to drink alcohol in social situations can be strong. Switching to alcohol-free products is one option to help reduce alcohol consumption levels.

 However, the best way to reduce your risk of oral cancer is to avoid alcohol altogether.

3. Maintain a Healthy Diet

Eating healthy food is another good strategy for the prevention of oral cancer. While more research is still needed, a 2021 study found the following displayed the potential to reduce the risk of oral cancer.

• fruit
• vegetables
• vitamin C
• curcumin, an active ingredient in turmeric
• foods high in folate like beans, leafy greens, asparagus, eggs and nuts
• green tea

On the flip side, it was found that foods that may contribute to inflammation such as red meat and fried foods could increase your risk of oral cancer. Foods and drinks high in sugar are very prevalent today, but these can also increase the risk.

4. Take Preventative Action When Out in the Sun

We can often forget about protecting the lips when out and about. Even the most meticulous person can forget the lips while still applying sunscreen on other exposed parts of the body before going out. However, UV light exposure from sunlight can increase the risk of cancer of the lips.

Limiting your exposure to sunlight, particularly when UV levels are high, is a good first step in protecting the lips as well as your skin. However, when you do go out, you should look to apply a lip balm of at least a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 30 to help protect the lips from UV light.

You should avoid tanning beds too.

5. Keep to Regular Appointments With Your Dentist

Your dentist can check for signs of oral cancer as part of a regular check-up. Signs include patches of gray, white, or red in the mouth or on the gums. This is the time to mention any other concerns you may have such as mouth pain, problems when chewing, and numbness. 

Catching oral cancer early increases the chances of a better outcome. This is one of the reasons regular dental appointments are important. However, dental problems such as periodontitis may also increase the risk of oral cancer according to a 2021 study. 

Regular appointments with your dentist will help protect your oral health and reduce the risk of developing dental conditions like periodontitis. Early gum disease does not always display symptoms that you will notice. However, your dentist can spot early signs when they are easier to treat and reverse before it develops into periodontitis.

6. Request an HPV Vaccination

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the largest contributing risk factor for throat cancer. Sadly, recorded cases are increasing. HPV is a sexually transmitted disease that can be passed on through oral sex. Vaccination against HPV works best before the age of 26, as after this age many people will have already been exposed to the virus.

In the vast majority of instances, around 9 out of 10, HPV will go away after a couple of years without causing any health issues. However, when it does not clear the risk of cancer increases. Even then, cancer due to HPV can still take many years to develop.

Final Thoughts

While factors such as genetics, gender and age can increase your risk of oral cancer, there are other contributing risk factors over which you have more control. 

Lifestyle choices including avoiding tobacco and alcohol as well as eating a healthier diet can help reduce the risk of oral cancer. 

Further strategies for the prevention of oral cancer include regular appointments with your dentist, sensible protection methods from UV light, and getting an HPV vaccination before you turn 26 years of age.