What is primary prevention of oral cancer?

Oral cancer is a general term for malignant tumors that originate in the oral cavity. It is a type of fatal disease that is preventable and easy to control, but is often overlooked. It is preventable because the risk factors for oral cancer, mainly oral mucosal squamous cell carcinoma, are relatively clear. If people can be guided to reduce exposure to risk factors, the incidence of oral cancer can be reduced. It is easy to control because the site of oral cancer is relatively superficial, making it easy to detect, diagnose, and treat early, thereby increasing the cure rate. It is often overlooked because the incidence of oral cancer is relatively low, and even within the oral medicine industry, it has not received enough attention and concern.

Compared with lung cancer, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, etc., the incidence rate of oral cancer in my country is relatively low, approximately 1 to 3/100,000. Most people have never heard of cancer occurring in the oral cavity.

What is primary prevention of oral cancer?

Primary prevention of disease, also known as etiology prevention, is to take measures against the risk factors of disease to prevent the occurrence of disease. Among the primary carcinogens, tobacco, alcohol, and betel nut are risk factors for oral cancer. Staying away from these risk factors, there is hope of reducing the incidence of oral cancer.

In addition to smoking, drinking is also an independent risk factor for oral cancer, and has a synergistic carcinogenic effect with smoking. The probability of people who smoke and drink oral cancer is much higher than those who do not smoke or drink. Especially for oral floor mucosal squamous cell carcinoma, it is rare to see people who do not smoke or drink oral floor mucosal squamous cell carcinoma in clinical practice.

People in Hunan, Hainan, Taiwan and other places in southern my country have the habit of chewing betel nuts. Betel nuts are a risk factor for oral cancer and were listed as a Class I carcinogen by the World Health Organization in 2003.

Many studies have shown that promoting overall oral health and improving the local oral environment are important measures to reduce the incidence of oral cancer. In addition to paying attention to effective brushing and flossing, you should also have your oral cavity checked regularly by a professional doctor.