These Are the Various Causes of Oral Cancer

Oral cancer can attack the tongue, lips, gums, inner cheeks, palate, and throat. The cause of oral cancer is thought to be related to heredity, smoking habits, and viral infections.

Based on data from the World Health Organization (WHO), there are around 650 thousand cases of oral cancer found every year, and more than half of them lead to deaths from this disease.

Most oral cancers are of type squamous cell carcinoma which tends to spread rapidly. However, often people with oral cancer do not feel the symptoms, so this condition is usually only detected when it has entered the advanced stage.

When it enters a further stage, oral cancer can show symptoms of canker sores, reddish or whitish spots in the mouth that do not improve over 2 weeks, grow lumps in the mouth, numbness or pain in the mouth , and difficulty swallowing or speaking.

Oral Cancer Causes and Risk Factors

Oral cancer is formed when cells in the mouth, including the tongue, gums, and lips undergo genetic mutations. These changes make the cells continue to grow and multiply to form cancer.

It is unclear what causes the cells in the mouth to mutate, but it is known that there are several factors that can increase a person's risk for oral cancer. One of them is if there is a biological family that has had cancer.

In addition to a family history of cancer, this disease is also more risky in people who have the following risk factors:

1. M smoking

Tobacco is the biggest risk factor for oral cancer. Sucking cigarettes, cigars, pipe cigarettes (cangklong), or chewing tobacco can increase the chances of oral cancer between 50 - 85%. In addition to people who actively smoke, the risk of oral cancer can also be experienced by passive smokers.

2. Often consume alcoholic drinks

People who often drink alcohol can experience a six-fold increased risk of oral cancer and throat cancer compared to people who lead a healthy lifestyle. This risk will be much higher if coupled with smoking habits.

This is presumably because the two bad habits can damage cells in the mouth, resulting in changes in genetic traits that make them become malignant.

3. Often exposed to sunlight

Exposure to sunlight or excessive ultraviolet (UV) radiation is thought to be the cause of oral cancer in the lip area. This is more risky for people who have a lot of activity in the sun.

4. Teri Human Papilloma Virus infection

Certain types of HPV, especially HPV type 16 viruses, can cause abnormal tissue growth in the mouth. This can increase the risk of oral cancer. You can be infected with HPV while engaging in sexual activity, including oral sex, with people suffering from HPV.

In addition to oral cancer, this HPV virus can also cause several other diseases, such as genital warts and cervical cancer.

5. Lack of maintaining oral hygiene

Poorly maintained oral and dental health plays a role in causing oral cancer. This is allegedly related to chronic wounds and inflammation of the mouth due to lack of maintenance of oral hygiene, so that cells in the oral cavity are damaged.

This is supported by a study that shows that people who rarely brush their teeth, do not routinely check their teeth and mouth to the dentist, use dentures, have broken or damaged teeth that are not handled, and are often affected by more gum inflammation at risk for oral cancer.

6. Have p if you eat less good

There are studies that reveal that unhealthy eating patterns, such as rarely eating fruits and vegetables, are thought to increase the risk of developing oral cancer. This risk can be reduced by implementing a healthy balanced nutritious diet.

7. Suffering from certain diseases

Some conditions, such as leukoplakia, erythroplakia (the appearance of red spots in the oral cavity), and salivary gland tumors, are thought to increase the risk of oral cancer. In addition, HIV infection and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) can also cause cells in the mouth to change their nature to malignant cells.

To avoid oral cancer, avoid several risk factors, namely by quitting smoking, reducing alcohol consumption, avoiding risky sexual behavior, getting HPV vaccination, and routine dental and oral health checks to the dentist.

Apart from that, don't forget to routinely carry out an independent oral examination at home. How, see the oral cavity using a mirror and note whether there are lumps, patches or canker sores, and wounds that are long healed in the tongue, lips, palate, and oral cavity.

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