Cáncer de boca (oral)

Tobacco, including smokeless tobacco, is a main cause of mouth cancer. You’re at higher risk for oral cancer if you:

• Smoke cigarettes, cigars, or pipes.
• Chew or dip tobacco.

Using tobacco puts chemicals in your mouth that harm cells. 

Researchers are studying if vaping (e-cigarettes) is a risk factor for cancer. Vaping may be risky for your health now and when you’re older.

Your chance of getting mouth cancer is even higher if you use both tobacco and alcohol. Talk with your healthcare provider about your drinking and smoking habits, now and in the past.

Learn more about cancer and tobacco use. 

Alcohol is a main cause of oral cancer. If you drink a lot of alcohol, you’re at higher risk for mouth cancer.

Your chance of getting mouth cancer is even higher if you use both tobacco and alcohol. Talk with your healthcare provider about your drinking and smoking habits, now and in the past.

Researchers aren’t sure why alcohol can cause cancer. They think it harms DNA. For example, your body breaks down the alcohol in drinks into a chemical compound called acetaldehyde. This chemical can make DNA less stable and trigger mutations (changes). 

People assigned male at birth are more likely to get mouth cancer than people assigned female at birth. This may be because men use tobacco and alcohol more than women. 

As you get older, your risk goes up, too. This is because the cells in your body become less healthy over time. It’s harder for your body to fix them.

Oral cancer often happens in people over age 40. On average, people are around age 60 when they learn they have oral cancer. 

Your mouth or oral cancer risk may be higher if you’ve had any of these health issues:

• A weakened immune system.
• Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), a problem that can happen after a stem cell transplant.
• Lichen planus (LIE-kun-PLAY-nus), a disease that often affects the skin.
• Genetic diseases such as Fanconi anemia and dyskeratosis congenital.

• You do not eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.
• You use tanning beds, which can cause skin cancer on your lips.
• You do not protect your lips from the sun, which can cause skin cancer.
• You chew betel quid or gutka, which is more common in parts of Asia.