You know your dentist is looking for cavities during
regular check-ups, but you may not know you're also
being screened for cancer at the same time.Oral
cancer and cancers of the throat, tonsils and back of
the tongue (pharyngeal) strike approximately 40,000
a year.
Regular visits to your dentist can help you detect such
cancers early, and changing a few potentially harmful
habits may help reduce your chances of developing
them. Watch what happens during an oral cancer
screening above, then read on to find out the top risk
factors.
Gender
Men are twice more likely to get oral cancer.
(They also visit the dentist less.) The American Cancer
Society attributes this to higher rates of alcohol and
tobacco use by men, but says more men of a younger
age are being diagnosed with HPV-related forms of oral
cancer.
Age
Your risk for oral cancer greatly increases after
age 44. The median age at diagnosis is age 62, but
could drop to as young as 52-56 because of the rise of
HPV-related cases.
Tobacco
Whether you smoke it or chew it, tobacco use
increases your risk dramatically. Smoking can cause
oral cancer, as well as cancer in other parts of the body.
Pipe smokers are also at a higher risk for developing
cancer in their lips. Smokeless tobacco, like chew, can
lead to many issues in your mouth, the most serious
being cancer of the cheeks, gums, and lips
Alcohol
According to the American Cancer Society, 7 of
10 oral cancer patients are heavy drinkers. Heavy
drinking, as defined by the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC), is an average of two
drinks a day or more for men and an average of more
than one drink a day for women. If you are a heavy
drinker and a heavy smoker, your chances of
developing oral cancer increase significantly.
Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
The sexually transmitted disease is now associated
with some 10,000 cases of oropharyngeal cancer
diagnosed each year in the United States, according
to the CDC. People who are diagnosed with
HPV-related oral cancer tend to be younger and
nonsmokers. Although this type is often diagnosed
at a later stage because it develops in
difficult-to-detect areas, people with HPV-positive
cancers have a lower risk of death or recurrence.
Sunlight
People who have jobs working outside are
more prone to developing lip cancer and should use
UV protection.
Diet
Poor nutrition also may put you at risk for
developing oral cancer. The ADA reports a diet low
in fruits and vegetables may increase your chance of
developing oral cancer, so add more color to your
plate!
from mouthhealthy.org
You know your dentist is looking for cavities during
regular check-ups, but you may not know you're also
being screened for cancer at the same time.Oral
cancer and cancers of the throat, tonsils and back of
the tongue (pharyngeal) strike approximately 40,000
a year.
Regular visits to your dentist can help you detect such
cancers early, and changing a few potentially harmful
habits may help reduce your chances of developing
them. Watch what happens during an oral cancer
screening above, then read on to find out the top risk
factors.
Gender
Men are twice more likely to get oral cancer.
(They also visit the dentist less.) The American Cancer
Society attributes this to higher rates of alcohol and
tobacco use by men, but says more men of a younger
age are being diagnosed with HPV-related forms of oral
cancer.
Age
Your risk for oral cancer greatly increases after
age 44. The median age at diagnosis is age 62, but
could drop to as young as 52-56 because of the rise of
HPV-related cases.
Tobacco
Whether you smoke it or chew it, tobacco use
increases your risk dramatically. Smoking can cause
oral cancer, as well as cancer in other parts of the body.
Pipe smokers are also at a higher risk for developing
cancer in their lips. Smokeless tobacco, like chew, can
lead to many issues in your mouth, the most serious
being cancer of the cheeks, gums, and lips
Alcohol
According to the American Cancer Society, 7 of
10 oral cancer patients are heavy drinkers. Heavy
drinking, as defined by the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC), is an average of two
drinks a day or more for men and an average of more
than one drink a day for women. If you are a heavy
drinker and a heavy smoker, your chances of
developing oral cancer increase significantly.
Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
The sexually transmitted disease is now associated
with some 10,000 cases of oropharyngeal cancer
diagnosed each year in the United States, according
to the CDC. People who are diagnosed with
HPV-related oral cancer tend to be younger and
nonsmokers. Although this type is often diagnosed
at a later stage because it develops in
difficult-to-detect areas, people with HPV-positive
cancers have a lower risk of death or recurrence.
Sunlight
People who have jobs working outside are
more prone to developing lip cancer and should use
UV protection.
Diet
Poor nutrition also may put you at risk for
developing oral cancer. The ADA reports a diet low
in fruits and vegetables may increase your chance of
developing oral cancer, so add more color to your
plate!
from mouthhealthy.org
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