Smoking and Oral Cancer
Sunday 31st May is World No Tobacco Day, dedicated to raising awareness of the dangers of tobacco use for health. If you’re looking for more reasons to quit smoking, you should be aware of its impact on oral health, particularly when it comes to oral cancer. This can develop in the soft tissues in and around the mouth and is significantly more likely to occur in smokers.
Read this guide to find out what causes oral cancer, what the warning signs are, and when to see a dentist for a screening. If you need to talk to a dentist, contact our team at Mosman 3D Dental today or book an appointment at our clinic.
What are the signs of mouth cancer?
Oral cancer doesn’t always have obvious symptoms, but some possible signs can include:
- Bad breath
- White or discoloured patches inside the mouth
- Difficulty chewing, swallowing or moving your jaw
- Numbness of the mouth
These can also be symptoms of other oral health problems or other issues. It’s important to see a dentist if you have any concerns so they can start any treatments as soon as possible.
How does smoking cause mouth cancer?
Tobacco smoke contains many toxic and carcinogenic chemicals that can damage cells and cause mutations, including cancer. As the mouth is the entry point for tobacco smoke, it’s especially vulnerable to its effects.
Studies have found that people who smoke are around 6 times more likely to develop oral cancer than non-smokers. The risk factor increases in proportion to the number of cigarettes smoked per day, so heavy smokers are at even higher risk.
Alternatives to cigarettes such as chewing tobacco and vaping also increase cancer risk and are not considered safe alternatives.
Other risk factors
Alcohol use is also a risk factor for oral cancer, and smoking and heavy drinking combined can increase the risk further. Other factors that can increase your risk of the disease include:
- Human papillomavirus (HPV)
- Weakened immune system
- Other mouth conditions
- Older age
- History of other cancers or family history of mouth cancer
How to lower your risks
If you smoke, quitting the habit can significantly lower your risk of developing oral cancer and other serious health problems. Even cutting down on the number of cigarettes you smoke each day can help.
Other beneficial changes you could make might include:
- Not drinking excessive alcohol
- Following a healthy diet with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables
- Increasing your daily exercise
- Maintaining good oral hygiene every day
- Seeing a dentist every 6 months for a check-up and clean
During your dental visit, your dentist might suggest an oral cancer screening. This could give an early warning if the disease is present, when treatment can be more effective.
See a dentist in Mosman today
If it’s been longer than 6 months since you last visited the dental clinic, or you have any concerns, our friendly professionals at Mosman 3D Dental are ready to help. Call us on (02) 9969 8610 to schedule your visit at a time that suits you or book online.
References
Natarajan PM, Swamikannu B, Bhavani L, Kamaraj B, Kamaraj L, Veerakumar R. Smoking and its Role in Oral Cancer. J Pharm Bioallied Sci. 2024 Dec;16(Suppl 5):S4242-S4244. doi: 10.4103/jpbs.jpbs_1305_24. Epub 2025 Jan 30. PMID: 40061674; PMCID: PMC11888633. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11888633/