Categories: Dental Health

Tips To Lower Your Risk Of Oral Cancer

Did you know that it’s estimated that around 49,750 people will be diagnosed with mouth, throat, tonsil, or tongue cancer this year? That means the odds of you or someone you know developing oral cancer are uncomfortably high. Don’t risk becoming a statistic. Don’t give oral cancer a chance. You can lower your risk of developing oral cancer by cutting certain bad habits out of your life along with regular visits to your dentist. Your dentist performs an oral cancer screening during each checkup and cleaning, allowing you and your dentist to spot it early.

Avoid Any Tobacco Products

Any products that contain tobacco, such as cigarettes or chew, greatly increase your chances of developing oral cancer. Smoking not only increases your odds of getting oral cancer, it can also cause cancer to develop in other parts of your body, such as the lungs. Smokeless tobacco, such as chew, can lead to a number of issues in your mouth, the biggest of which being the development of cheek, gum, or lip cancer. These products can also have detrimental effects on your teeth. Avoiding tobacco products at any cost will lower your risk of oral cancer by a large margin.

Lower Your Consumption Of Alcohol

According to the American Cancer Society, 7 out of 10 oral cancer patients drink heavily. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention defines heavy drinkers as men who average two drinks a day or women who average more than one drink a day. Heavy drinking increases your odds of developing oral cancer exponentially, especially when combined with heavy smoking. If this applies to you, taking steps to cut back on your drinking will have multiple benefits for your health.