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Oral Cancer and How to Prevent It


Most people tend to get a sinking feeling in their stomachs when the “C-word” is mentioned, that's right – cancer. Some cancers come out of nowhere with the person having no predisposition or any real reason to have been affected by it. While on the other hand, many cancers, including oral cancer, are extremely preventable.

To have the greatest chance of avoiding oral cancer, it is most important to avoid the use of tobacco products altogether. This pertains to chewing tobacco, smoking cigarettes or using hookah, as a few common examples. The reason tobacco is so heavily linked to oral cancer is because of the countless deadly and cancer-causing chemicals in cigarettes and smokeless tobacco.

In addition to the use of tobacco products, drinking alcohol has been linked to oral cancer. The best way to avoid alcohol-related oral cancer is to not drink at all. Heavy drinking is seen as a greater risk, but most studies have shown that drinking in moderation reduced the risk considerably. The combination of drinking alcohol and tobacco use has been proven to be statistically more dangerous in regards to increasing the risk of oral cancer, as the two substances have been proven to increase each other’s dangerous effects, according to some of these same studies.

Cancer can be found in and on any part of the human body, including your lips. The best way to avoid oral cancer, specifically on your lips, is to limit the amount of UV (ultraviolet) rays your body comes in contact with over your life. Many popular sunscreen brands have come out with lip specific sunscreen, and it typically comes in a small tube like regular Chapstick or lip gloss. By incorporating sunscreen on your lips into your regular skincare routine, your risks of oral cancer can be greatly diminished.

According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, about 95% of cases of oral cancer occur in Americans over the age of 40, proving that early prevention is pivotal in the avoidance of this deadly disease. But, by eliminating the consumption of tobacco and alcohol, and by wearing sunscreen on your lips, you have the chance of greatly reducing your risks of getting oral cancer.


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