Poor oral hygiene is associated with a risk of oral cancer. If you do not practice good oral care, bacteria start to build up, which causes chronic inflammation, gum diseases, infections, and more. These problems can change the cells lining your mouth, thus increasing the risk of developing oral cancer. Besides, if your oral health is poor, the effect of other risk factors like tobacco, alcohol use, and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection will be amplified.

Keeping your mouth clean helps preserve your teeth and gums and can lower your cancer risk. Regular brushing, flossing, and dental check-ups help protect you from serious health concerns and ensure early detection of abnormalities. Understanding the link between oral care and cancer will help you take proactive care measures early enough. The information below will help you achieve this.

What is Oral Cancer?

Oral cancer primarily affects the lips, tongue, gums, and mouth lining. It often develops silently, leading to delayed diagnosis. This type of cancer starts in the squamous cells of the mouth lining and is called oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Benign tumors exist, too, which are less common and include adenocarcinomas and lymphomas. Not practicing good oral hygiene may lead to bacterial infection and chronic inflammation, causing cell changes that may lead to cancer.

The symptoms of oral cancer may seem minor at first. They include:

  • A mouth sore that does not seem to heal
  • Persistent pain in the mouth
  • A lump or thickening in the cheek
  • Patches in the mouth of white or red color
  • Difficulty chewing or swallowing
  • Speech difficulties
  • Chronic sore throat or a sensation of a lump in the throat
  • Unexplained weight loss

Even though other oral issues may cause these signs, persistent signs require medical evaluation. Early detection makes a successful treatment more likely.

Research shows that not taking good care of your teeth raises the odds of getting mouth cancer. A notable study by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) found that poor oral health significantly increases the risk of oral cancer in individuals, primarily when used with tobacco. The study pointed out that if the oral environment is neglected, chronic inflammation and bacterial infections will occur, which can cause cancer.

Further evidence comes in a 2019 Journal of Dental Research study that evaluated the connection between periodontal disease and oral cancer. The study pointed out that prolonged inflammation due to gum disease is a possible cancer factor as it alters mouth cells. These findings highlight the importance of oral hygiene in preventing chronic oral ailments that may increase the risk of cancer. Proper oral hygiene can protect you from these serious complications, and you can enjoy general health.

Additional Factors that Cause Oral Cancer Other than Poor Oral Health

Oral cancer develops from a complex interplay of different factors. Poor oral hygiene is an important predisposing factor for oral cancer. Inadequate oral care causes chronic inflammation, a bacterial imbalance, and a viral-persistent environment, but it is not the sole factor but one of several important factors. Some of the other causes include:

a. Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

Human papillomavirus (HPV), particularly type 16, is a significant risk factor for oropharyngeal cancer in the throat, tonsils, and tongue base. The primary way that HPV gets transmitted is through any sexual act, including oral sex, which can remain dormant in the oral cavity for years before causing cancer.

Having bad oral hygiene will not lead to HPV-related cancers. However, it will make a better place for the virus to thrive. With time, it may become more aggressive. If oral health is neglected over a long period, it can result in chronic inflammation, bacterial imbalance, and tissue damage, and the natural barrier of the mouth can weaken. HPV can thrive more efficiently to increase the likelihood of the virus triggering cancer development.

Taking care of your mouth, getting your teeth checked by your dentist regularly, and looking for unusual signs can help reduce the risk and allow early detection. Early detection is important because it leads to better treatment. So that there is little or no transmission of the virus, it is best to adopt safe sexual habits and stay informed about HPV vaccination.

b. Tobacco Use

Oral cancer is mainly caused by tobacco use, above all. Tobacco, whether chewed or smoked, exposes oral tissues to a wide variety of carcinogens capable of damaging cellular DNA, thereby leading to mutations and increased cellular growth. Smoking can cause cancer, but the more you smoke, the more risk you expose yourself to.

Exposure to chemicals over time from second-hand smoke can still increase your risk. 

c. Alcohol Consumption

Drinking alcohol, especially heavily and for long periods, is another major cause. The combined use of alcohol and tobacco greatly increases cancer risk. When you drink alcohol, it helps the cancer-causing chemicals in tobacco to get deeper into the mouth. Even on its own, alcohol can damage your cells, reduce the natural defense of your mouth, and make it hard to repair itself.

d. Betel Nut Chewing

There is strong evidence that oral cancer is a serious threat in regions where people regularly chew betel nuts and/or areca nuts, like those of Asia and the Pacific. People chew betel nuts with tobacco, lime, and other ingredients. This practice causes long-term damage due to irritation and inflammation of the oral tissues. In the long run, this recurring injury may cause a precancerous condition and cancer. The very high incidence of oral cancer among these groups proves that this habit poses a serious threat.

e. Diet

What you eat has a significant impact on your risk of oral cancer. Not eating enough fruits and veggies can increase your chances of getting cancer because these foods are rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants help to fix damage to cells' DNA and stop cancer cells from growing.

On the other hand, a diet rich in processed meats, refined sugars, and unhealthy fat can increase the chances of getting cancer.

h. Genetics

Environmental factors are the leading causes of oral cancer, but genes can make some people more likely to get it. Your risk may be higher if you have a family history of cancer or carry specific gene mutations. Having a genetic predisposition to cancer does not mean you will get the disease. However, it does mean you should be especially vigilant about managing modifiable risk factors and maintaining good oral health.

i. Previous Oral Cancer

If you have been previously diagnosed with oral cancer, you are likely to develop another primary cancer in the oral cavity or nearby regions. Field cancerization refers to the appearance of multiple cancerous areas in the mouth that may have resulted from exposure to the same carcinogens as the original cancer. It is important to follow up regularly and test for recurrence.

j. Immunosuppression

Having a weaker immune system greatly increases your mouth cancer risk. Having HIV or AIDS, chemotherapy, or having an organ transplant weakens your body’s natural ability to detect and kill abnormal cells. This reduced immune activity allows cancerous cells to develop and reproduce unchecked.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Oral Cancer

Oral cancer, though alarming, is treatable if caught early. Early diagnosis can greatly improve survival rates and the quality of life after the treatment. The prognosis for oral cancer is more favorable when it is diagnosed early. To put it another way, for patients diagnosed with localized oral cancer, the five-year survival rate is usually above 80%. As the cancer spreads, the chances of survival decrease by over 50% for late-stage cancer types. This happens especially when the cancer has spread to other areas of the body, resulting in metastatic disease.

Early diagnosis is essential. Early-stage oral cancer can often be easily treated with less aggressive methods to yield better results. Localized cancers may only need tissues removed in surgery to prevent metastasizing, preventing the need for large-scale operations. At lower doses, radiation therapy may be introduced to eradicate the cancer cells without causing much harm to the surrounding tissues. Less invasive, less complex treatment is better. Also, the recovery time and the patient’s quality of life are faster.

Regular dental check-ups are among the best ways to catch oral cancer early. Dentists know what to look for to catch oral cancer early on. Look out for sores, growths, red patches, and white patches in your mouth that do not heal. These symptoms may be the first signs that cancerous changes are developing in the mouth. Visiting the dentist regularly can also reveal changes in mouth function, possibly due to chewing or swallowing. These are often subtle signs of trouble. The dentist can refer the patient for testing and treatment if the disease is discovered early.

Self-examinations also play a significant role in early detection. Consistently checking your mouth for unexplained sores, lumps, and patches is a good first step to finding oral cancer problems before they start. Being on the lookout for changes in the mouth is essential. Any change should be reported immediately to a doctor or dentist. You can also perform a self-exam at home. Use a mirror to look at the inside of your mouth and feel around your cheeks, gums, tongue, and the roof of your mouth for any abnormalities. When potential problems are identified early, you can seek medical help faster. This could lead to a favorable outcome.

If oral cancer is detected early, treatment is less invasive and more effective. With early treatment, localized surgery can remove only the affected tissue and leave healthy tissues intact. This helps preserve the natural functioning and appearance of the mouth. Besides, patients are more inclined to avoid aggressive treatment like chemotherapy or more extensive radiation that can have significant side effects. When diagnosed early, cancer has a better chance of being cured completely and significantly reduces the chances of recurrence.

Moreover, it offers a much better psychological and emotional impact on the patient and physical benefits. If you are diagnosed with oral cancer in the early stages, you have time to weigh various treatment options. You prepare your mind regarding the journey ahead and communicate the challenges with support systems like family, friends, and counseling. The treatment process can feel much less frightening with the feeling of control and support. Moreover, like many patients, you could proactively address any lifestyle modifications or rehabilitation requirements to ensure your quality of life is not compromised during treatment.

Is Oral Cancer Preventable?

You may be able to prevent oral cancer through simple lifestyle changes and proactive measures. You can significantly lower your chances of getting this disease by having good habits and being proactive in your health management. Some of the steps you could take include:

a. Quitting Smoking and Tobacco Use

Using tobacco, either in the form of smoking cigarettes or chewing, is a leading cause of oral cancer. Smoking is carcinogenic and alters cells in your mouth, leading to cancer. If you quit using tobacco or smoking products, you can lower your risk for oral cancers. Moreover, quitting improves your health and reduces your risk for other cancers, heart disease, and respiratory problems. Avoiding secondhand smoke is also important as it carries the same harm.

b. Limit Your Alcohol Consumption

Try to limit your alcohol intake because heavy drinking, especially with tobacco, is a well-known risk factor for oral cancer. Keeping your alcohol intake moderate, that is, one drink per day for women and two for men, can lower your risk of oral cancer and other alcohol-related diseases. Not drinking alcohol at all can offer the best protection.

c. Practice Good Oral Hygiene

Good oral hygiene helps prevent harmful bacteria from building up in your mouth. Bacteria cause chronic inflammation in the mouth, a risk factor for oral cancer. If you brush your teeth twice daily using fluoride toothpaste, floss, and use mouthwash regularly, then the oral environment will be clean and healthy, helping to lower the chances of getting oral cancer.

d. Go For Regular Dental Check-ups

Dental check-ups should be done regularly to maintain overall dental health. When you go for these visits, your dentist will carefully check your mouth for the first signs of cancer, like a white or red patch, sore, lump, or growth. Dentists are trained to look for changes in your mouth to intervene quickly. When you find cancer earlier, it usually takes fewer operations with a better chance of being cured with less risk.

Moreover, regular dental checkups help prevent gum disease, related tooth decay, and other oral diseases. If tooth decay is left untreated, it will lead to chronic inflammation and a bacterial infection that can cause cancer. In addition, your dentist may notice symptoms of diseases in your mouth and, as a result, can help identify diseases.

e. HPV Vaccination

Get your children vaccinated against HPV through a vaccine like Gardasil, which curbs oral cancer someday. Boys and girls are recommended to get vaccinated before they become sexually active, preferably between the ages of 9 and 14. Vaccination can also protect other forms of cancer like cervical cancer and anal cancer.

f. Make Dietary Changes

Changing your diet and eating more fruits and veggies with plenty of antioxidants will help keep cells from developing cancer. The above foods are rich in vitamins A, C, and E, which greatly help. One way to prevent cancer is to eat lesser amounts of red and processed meat, which are linked to greater cancer risk.

g. Practice Safe Sex 

Since this virus is mainly transmitted through sexual contact, using safe sexual practices could limit the chances of HPV infection, which in turn reduces the risk of the disease. You should limit the number of sex partners that you have. Try using condoms, which can help lower the chances of getting HPV as well as other STIs. However, note that this will not give you 100% protection against HPV.

h. Regularly Update Yourself on Oral Cancer

When you know more about the risks of the disease, symptoms, and preventive measures, you can make a safe choice. When people are educated about the lifestyle changes that can prevent cancer, they will be more proactive.

i. Self-Examination

Make it a habit to perform self-examinations for oral cancer. When you notice something suspicious, check it immediately. If anything seems off, speak to your doctor right away. Early detection is essential for effective treatment.

Find a Dentists Near Me

Optimal oral health is not just about home routines but also about teaming up with your dentist. Your dentist can catch problems early. While brushing, flossing, and using mouthwash daily are good practice, only your dentist can provide treatment you cannot do at home.

Getting check-ups regularly may catch cavities, gum disease, and early signs of oral cancer to stay ahead of these concerns well before they become serious issues. Your dentist can tell you which products and techniques would suit you as a solution for your case, helping you maintain a healthy smile for life.

Do not wait until problems arise. Take proactive steps to protect your oral health today. Make an appointment with Ganji Dental for professional support and tailored recommendations. Our Hawthorne team will do everything possible to help you choose the best preventive care and dental treatment options. Contact us at 310-643-8045 to schedule your next appointment.