Mouth cancer: The significant risk of just one drink

Mouth cancer, also known as oral cancer, can develop on the lips, gums, tongue or inner lining of the cheeks. It’s most commonly diagnosed in people over 60.

Unfortunately, even with treatment, just 68% of patients live five years or longer after diagnosis.

So, it’s vital to understand risk factors for oral cancers, which have been steadily on the rise since 2013, starting with this common habit…

Just one drink…

A study published in the journal BMJ Global Health examined the effects of alcohol and tobacco on mouth cancer development.

Researchers compared 1,803 people diagnosed with oral cancer with 1,903 randomly selected healthy controls. The team analyzed detailed information about how long they had been drinking alcohol, how often they drank, and the types of alcohol they consumed. They also made note of tobacco use.

The results were clear — there is no safe amount of alcohol when it comes to your oral health…

Compared with people who did not drink alcohol, those who did had a 68% higher risk of oral cancer.

And while you might think that just a little can’t hurt, the research painted a different picture altogether.

The scientists say that just two grams of beer (which works out to 0.07 ounces) was linked to increased development of mouth cancer.

It only took nine grams of any alcohol daily (the equivalent of one standard drink) to raise oral cancer risk by 50%.

If that wasn’t bad enough, the team found that combining alcohol with chewing tobacco was linked to a more than fourfold increase in risk.

This is likely due to how alcohol changes the fat content of the mouth’s inner lining, making it more permeable and therefore more susceptible to carcinogens found in chewing tobacco products.

Reducing your risk

Clearly, if you want to keep oral cancer at bay, alcohol and tobacco should be avoided at all costs.

Additional tips to help reduce your risk for mouth cancer include:

• Seeing your dentist – Getting a checkup could help identify cancer early, which is critical to survival.
• Caring for your gums – Periodontal (or gum) disease is linked to cancer of the mouth, head, and neck. Make your oral hygiene a priority.
• Avoiding sugary drinks – Surprised at how much alcohol raises your risk of mouth cancer? Sugary drinks are even worse!

This study was conducted in India and only on men. But previous research has linked alcohol consumption to head and neck cancers, which include cancers that affect the mouth.

According to the American Institute for Cancer Research:

• Alcohol is converted into a substance called acetaldehyde, a compound that can directly damage DNA and lead to cancer cells developing.
• The alcohol molecule can physically help carry other cancer-causing substances into cells.
• Too much alcohol can lead to low levels of vitamin D and other nutrients, which play a role in health and lowering cancer risk.

Sources:

Association of alcohol and different types of alcoholic beverages on the risk of buccal mucosa cancer in Indian men: a multicentre case-control study — BMJ Global Health

Even one drink a day may raise mouth cancer risk — ScienceDaily

 Cancer Stat Facts: Oral Cavity and Pharynx Cancer — NIH