Causes of oral cancer and other risk factors!

Anyone can experience and any part of the body can be attacked by cancer cells, including the mouth. Oral cancer, or what is often called oral cancer, is cancer that attacks the oral tissue, including the lips, tongue, floor of the mouth, roof of the mouth, gums, inner cheeks, tonsils, and salivary glands. Know the various causes of oral cancer to reduce your risk of developing this disease in the future.

Common causes of oral cancer

Quoted from the Mayo Clinic, oral cancer occurs when cells in the mouth undergo changes in DNA structure. DNA is supposed to work telling everything the cell has to do.

However, when the DNA structure changes, the development of healthy cells in the mouth will be disrupted. This condition causes previously healthy cells to become damaged and grow out of control.

Abnormal accumulation of cells in the oral cavity can eventually form a malignant tumor. Over time, cancer cells in the mouth can spread to other parts of the body.

For example the neck, throat, and even the head. This is why experts also categorize oral cancer as head and neck cancer.

The growth of oral cancer often starts in squamous cells, which can number as much as 90%. Squamous are the flattened cells that line the inner lips and mouth.

Therefore, the most common type of oral cancer is the squamous cell carcinoma type.

Until now, researchers have not received a definite answer to the causes of DNA mutations in squamous cells that cause oral cancer. However, experts suspect that there are several risk factors that can make a person more at risk of developing oral cancer.

Risk factors for oral cancer

As discussed a little above, it is not certain what triggers DNA changes that cause oral cancer. Here are a number of things that can increase your risk of developing oral cancer, such as:

1. Smoking

The dangers of smoking are not kidding. Apart from damaging the lungs and heart, this bad habit can also be a factor that causes oral cancer. Whether you smoke hand-rolled tobacco or use a cigar, pipe, or vape, the risks are the same.

This is because the ingredients in cigarettes contain toxic substances that are carcinogens, substances that trigger cancer. Even the Oral Cancer Foundation states that people who smoke have an approximately 30 times higher risk of developing oral cancer. Meanwhile, the risk of oral cancer in nonsmokers is much lower.

In principle, the longer and the more you smoke, the higher your risk of developing this type of cancer.

2. The habit of beteling

For some Indonesians, chewing has become part of an ingrained lifestyle and tradition. The main ingredients of betel are ping seeds and betel leaves. As a flavor enhancer, some people sometimes add spices, citrus flavor, lime or tobacco.

Unfortunately, the habit of betraying tobacco can also be a factor that causes oral cancer to be aware of. Quoting from the official website of the World Health Organization (WHO), chewing can trigger oral cancer.

This conclusion is based on research conducted by the International Agency for Research on Cancer in South and Southeast Asia.

From this research, it was found that a mixture of areca nut, lime, betel nut, and tobacco was actually carcinogenic. If this habit is done too often and in the long term, then a person's risk of developing oral cancer will be even greater.

Not only oral cancer, this habit can also lead to the risk of esophageal cancer (esophagus), throat cancer, laryngeal cancer, and cheek cancer.

3. Drinking excess alcohol

Another factor that causes oral cancer that you need to be aware of is the habit of drinking excess alcohol. According to the American Society of Clinical Oncology, alcoholics are more at risk of developing various types of cancer.

Starting from oral cancer, throat cancer, liver cancer, pancreatic cancer, colon cancer, and so on.

Several studies have also shown that a person's risk of developing cancer increases when they smoke and drink alcohol at the same time. This risk occurs because excessive alcohol consumption can interfere with the body's ability to absorb a variety of good nutrients that can prevent cancer.

In addition, the content of certain compounds in alcoholic drinks can also be carcinogens, so that the Real Effects of Alcohol's Danger on the Body: Heart to Kidney Damage.

4.Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection

Infection of the mouth due to HPV can also be a cause of oral cancer. HPV is a virus that is spread through sexual contact. This virus can cause genital warts and also various types of cancer, including oral cancer.

In fact, HPV does not directly cause cancer. However, this virus can cause changes in infected cells. If the infected cells are cells in the mouth, this can cause oral cancer.

5. Family history

Oral cancer can affect anyone at any age, from children to adults. However, genetic or hereditary factors can be causes of oral cancer that should not be underestimated.

The reason is, your risk will increase if you have a history of oral cancer or other types of cancer. So, if your grandfather, grandmother, parent, or sibling gets this disease, you are at high risk of experiencing it too.

You can prevent this disease by avoiding the various risk factors that have been previously mentioned.

6. Poor oral hygiene

Quoting from the NHS website, poor oral hygiene can also be a cause of oral cancer. A dirty mouth can lead to gum disease or other tooth decay. This condition can also lead to sores or abscesses that settle on the tongue.

Well, these various things allow cancer cells to develop in the mouth.

7. Other causative factors

Here are some other causes of oral cancer that you need to be aware of:

• Weak immune system.
• Excessive sun exposure (ultraviolet) on the lips and face. Especially if when you were young you often did outdoor activities without wearing
• Have a history of GERD.
• Eating too much red meat, processed meat, or fried foods.
• Have had treatment with radiation techniques, on the head, neck, or face.
• Exposure to certain chemicals, especially asbestos, sulfuric acid, and formaldehyde.

Image source: Health Cleveland Clinic