Oral cancer is a type of cancer that can develop in any part of the mouth and its surroundings. It is often categorized as a type of "head and neck cancer." Mouth cancer can affect the tongue, lips, inner lining of the cheeks, gums, the mouth palate, and even the tissue under the tongue of a patient.
Oral Cancer Causes and Risk Factors
Oral cancer occurs when the cells in the lips or mouth develop changes or mutations in their DNA. Mutational changes tell cells to keep growing and dividing when healthy cells die. The abnormal accumulation of cancer cells in the oral cavity can form a tumor. Over time, the different cancer cells can spread within the mouth and to any other area of the head and neck. In extreme cases, it could also spread through other parts of the body.
A known factor that increases the risk of developing oral cancer is consuming any type of tobacco, be it cigarettes, pipes, chewing tobacco, and cigars. Furthermore, drinking to great excesses, too much sun exposure on the lips, and even having a weakened immune system can also influence the formation of oral cancer.
Oral Cancer Prevention
There is no exact way to avoid mouth cancer. However, there are plenty of things that we can do to help minimize the risk of obtaining it. We highly recommend avoiding tobacco or alcohol consumption, preventing your lips from prolonged sun exposure; and most importantly, maintaining good oral health practices on a regular basis. It is always good to follow the advice to prevent this type of disease in the best possible way.
Oral cancer is easier to treat at early stages, so we encourage you to contact us today to appoint a visit with our team. Getting professional oral care is not only beneficial for your mouth, but for your whole body as well.
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Oral cancer is a type of cancer that can develop in any part of the mouth and its surroundings. It is often categorized as a type of "head and neck cancer." Mouth cancer can affect the tongue, lips, inner lining of the cheeks, gums, the mouth palate, and even the tissue under the tongue of a patient.