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pamphlet contact:

National Institute of Dental and 

Craniofacial Research

National Oral Health 

Information Clearinghouse

1 NOHIC Way

Bethesda, MD 20892-3500

301-402-7364

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Oral

Cancer

Oral

Cancer

Are You at Risk?

What Are the Signs 

& Symptoms?

Should You Have an 

Oral Cancer Exam?

Early Detection

It is important to find oral 

cancer as early as possible 

when it can be treated more 

successfully.

An oral cancer examination 

can detect early signs of cancer. 

Oral cancer exams are painless 

and quick — and take only a 

few minutes.

Your regular dental check-up 

is an excellent opportunity 

to have the exam. During the 

exam, your dentist or dental 

hygienist will check your face, 

neck, lips, and entire mouth for 

possible signs of cancer.

Some parts of the pharynx 

are not visible during an 

oral cancer exam. Talk to 

your dentist about whether 

a specialist should check 

your pharynx.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH 

AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health

National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research

National Cancer Institute

NIH Publication No: 06-5032 

Reprinted July 2006
About Oral Cancer

The term oral cancer includes 

cancers of the mouth and the 

pharynx, part of the throat. 

About two-thirds of oral 

cancers occur in the mouth 

and about one-third are found 

in the pharynx.

Oral cancer will be diagnosed 

in an estimated 28,000 

Americans this year and 

will cause approximately 

7,000 deaths. It is the 6th most 

common cancer in men and 

the 14th most common cancer 

in women. 

Oral cancer can spread quickly. 

On average, 59 percent of

those with the disease will 

survive more than five years.

Oral cancer most often occurs 

in people over the age of 40 

and affects twice as many men 

as women.

Lower Your Risk

Most oral cancer is 

preventable. 75 percent of

oral cancers are related to 

tobacco use, alcohol use,

or use of both substances 

together. Using both tobacco 

and alcohol puts you at much 

greater risk than using either 

substance alone.

Do not use tobacco 

products — cigarettes, chew 

or snuff, pipes or cigars.

Tobacco in all forms plays a 

role in oral cancers.

If you drink alcohol, do 

so only in moderation.

Excessive alcohol use can 

increase your risk of oral

cancer.

Use lip balm that contains 

sunscreen. Exposure to 

sunlight is a risk factor for lip 

cancer.

Eat plenty of fruits and 

vegetables. Eating lots 

of fruits and vegetables as 

part of a low-fat, high fiber 

diet may help reduce cancer 

risk. The National Cancer 

Institute suggests eating at 

least five servings of fruits and 

vegetables a day.

Possible Signs & Symptoms

See a dentist or physician if any 

of the following symptoms lasts 

for more than two weeks.

• A sore, irritation, lump or 

thick patch in your mouth, lip,

or throat

• A white or red patch in 

your mouth

• A feeling that something is 

caught in your throat

• Difficulty chewing or 

swallowing

• Difficulty moving your jaw 

or tongue

• Numbness in your tongue or 

other areas of your mouth

• Swelling of your jaw that 

causes dentures to fit poorly 

or become uncomfortable

• Pain in one ear without 

hearing loss