April is Oral Cancer Awareness month. According to the American Cancer Society, about 58,450 new cases of oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer will occur in 2024, and about 12,230 Americans will die from oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer.

These kinds of cancer occur most often in the tongue, tonsils and oropharynx (the part of the throat behind the tongue), gums, floor of the mouth, under the tongue and other parts of the mouth. The rest are found in the lips, the minor salivary glands (which often occur in the roof of the mouth) and other sites.

The best way to protect yourself from oral cancer is to know your risk factors. For oral cancer, primary risk factors are:

• Using tobacco in any form (smoking, chewing tobacco, etc.).
• Drinking alcohol in large amounts over a long period of time.

The risk for oral cancer is even higher in people who use both tobacco and alcohol.

Other risk factors include:

• HPV infection.
• Sun exposure (ultraviolet radiation), which can cause lip cancer.

Making Lifestyle Changes

To help prevent oral cancer:

• Don't use any form or type of tobacco. Talk with your healthcare provider for resources to help you quit.
• Stay away from other people's smoke (secondhand smoke).
• Limit how much alcohol you drink – or don't drink at all.

Other lifestyle changes that can help prevent oral cancer include:

• Protect yourself from UV light exposure. People who spend a lot of time in the sun have a greater risk for lip cancer. If possible, limit time spent in the sun. If you are in the sun, wear a wide-brimmed hat and protect your lips with sunscreen or lip balm with an SPF of 30.
• Prevent HPV infection. Limit your risk for oral human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. The risk for HPV is higher in people who have oral sex and multiple sex partners. The HPV vaccine lowers the risk for HPV infections. Over time, it also should lower the risk for oral cancers linked to HPV. Ask your healthcare provider about getting the HPV vaccine.
• Eat well. People with poor diets have a greater risk for these cancers. It's important to eat a healthy diet focused on plant-based foods. Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Limit processed foods, sugary drinks and red meats.
• Stay at a healthy weight. Extra weight is linked to oral cancer. Ask your healthcare provider what a healthy weight is for you. They can help you reach your goal weight.
• Have your dentures correctly fitted. Dentures that rub the inside of the cheeks or the tongue can cause irritation that changes the cells of the mouth. This may lead to an increased risk for cancer over time. All denture wearers should remove and clean their dentures every night and have them regularly checked by a dentist. Everyone should get regular dental care.
• Have regular preventative dental checkups if you have intact teeth. Dentists are trained to identify signs of oral and oropharyngeal cancer, so regular dental care often results in identifying any issues early.

See Your Healthcare Provider

Talk with your healthcare provider if you’re at risk for oral cancer. Your provider can suggest resources to help. Making changes can be hard, but you don’t have to make them alone. Your provider can help you find a counselor or self-help group in your area. You’ll connect with other people who have been able to make these changes. Ask them for ideas about what worked for them. Your healthcare provider can also check your mouth for oral cancer. This can help find oral cancer in its early stages, when it’s small and easiest to treat.

You should also get regular dental checkups so areas of concern can be identified early. See your doctor or dentist if you develop one or more of these signs and symptoms:

• A sore on the lip or in the mouth that doesn't heal.
• Pain in the mouth that doesn’t go away.
• A lump or thickening in the lips, mouth or cheek.
• A white or red patch on the gums, tongue, tonsil or lining of the mouth.
• A sore throat or a feeling that something is caught in your throat that doesn’t go away.
• Trouble chewing or swallowing.
• Trouble moving the jaw or tongue.
• Numbness of the tongue, lip or other area of the mouth.
• Swelling or pain in the jaw.
• Dentures that start to fit poorly or become uncomfortable.
• Loosening of the teeth or pain around the teeth.
• Voice changes.
• A lump or mass in the neck.
• Lump or mass in the back of the throat.
• Weight loss.
• Pain in the ear.

Reviewed by: Jessica Wobb, M.D., Aultman Radiation Oncology

Sources:
Aultman Health System
The StayWell Company, LLC