Oral Cancers

Risk factors of Oral Cancers include:

1. Smoking
2. Heavy alcohol consumption
3. Betel nut chewing
4. Tobacco chewing
5. Chronic irritation from ill-fitting dentures
6. Sun exposure (for lip cancer)
7. Poor immunity states, e.g. patients on immunosuppressants or HIV
8. Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection
9. Poor nutrition especially diets low in fruits and vegetable
10. Premalignant oral lesions:
    • Leukoplakia, which is a persistent white patch in the oral cavity
    • Erythroplakia, which is a persistent brightly coloured smooth area in the oral cavity (erythroplakia has higher risks of turning cancerous than leukoplakia)