{"id":73,"date":"2021-03-15T17:57:52","date_gmt":"2021-03-15T17:57:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pettydental.com\/blog\/?p=73"},"modified":"2021-04-15T18:00:45","modified_gmt":"2021-04-15T18:00:45","slug":"risk-for-oral-cancer-tullahoma","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pettydental.com\/blog\/2021\/03\/15\/risk-for-oral-cancer-tullahoma\/","title":{"rendered":"Are You at Risk for Oral Cancer?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"FormAt the beginning of this year, it was estimated that 54,000 people<\/a> in the U.S. would be diagnosed with oral cancer in 2021. It was also projected that close to 10,000 people would die from this disease. Oral cancer in Tullahoma might not get the same level of publicity as other types of cancer, but it certainly deserves our attention! Are you <\/em>at risk of developing it? Let\u2019s talk about some major risk factors and what you can do to minimize the chances that you will suffer from this devastating disease.<\/p>\n

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Tobacco Use<\/h2>\n

Tobacco products, including cigarettes and chewing tobacco, contain high concentrations of carcinogens. Historically, 75% of oral cancer cases in people aged 50 and over occur in tobacco users. If you smoke, it would be in your best interests to quit as soon as possible. Your dentist or general care practitioner may be able to offer practical suggestions on how you can kick the habit for good.<\/p>\n

Alcohol Consumption<\/h2>\n

The ethanol in alcoholic beverages breaks down to acetaldehyde, a compound that is known to be carcinogenic. When alcohol is combined with tobacco use, the risk of oral cancer skyrockets. In fact, it is estimated that it can put you at a 15 times <\/em>greater risk than the general population. If you choose to drink, you should always do so in moderation.<\/p>\n

HPV<\/h2>\n

The fastest-growing group of oral cancer sufferers are non-smokers under the age of 50. This startling statistic may be largely due to the human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is a group of closely related viruses, some of which are correlated with an increased risk of several types of cancer, including oral cancer. HPV is the most common sexually transmitted disease, and many people are not even aware that they have it. Doctors generally recommend that preteen boys and girls get vaccinated for it.<\/p>\n

Other Risk Factors<\/h2>\n

Other things that might contribute to oral cancer include:<\/p>\n