“I love my teeth and my smile. The work was done very softly and pleasant, and Dr. Gross and his team really cared and even worked on “odd” hours as I was a bit pushed for time leaving USA for Europe. Thank you Dr. Gross – Thank you Renee and the rest of the team – You are great!”

- Pernilla

The only way to avoid developing oral cancer is to avoid known risk factors so that the chance of developing cancer decreases. Anything that increases a person's chance of developing cancer or any other disease is called a risk factor. Some risk factors can be avoided, but many cannot. For example, you can choose to quit using tobacco. However, you cannot choose which genes you have inherited.

Some known risk factors for oral cancer include:

• Tobacco and Alcohol Use - Cigarette, pipe, cigar, and smokeless tobacco use is responsible for most cases of oral cancer. The risk of developing oral cancer is higher in people who use both tobacco and alcohol. It is known that stopping or avoiding tobacco use decreases the risk of oral cancer, though no studies have shown whether abstaining from alcohol decreases the risk of oral cancer.
• Sun and UV Exposure - Sunlight and ultraviolet ray exposure may increase the risk of lip cancer, which occurs most often on the lower lip. Avoiding the sun, tanning beds, and/or using a UV-protective sunscreen, lipstick, or lip gloss on the lips may decrease the risk of developing lip cancer.
• Genetics - A family history of cancer - and not just oral cancer - may put you at a higher risk of developing oral cancer.
• Other Factors - Some studies suggest that being infected with certain types of the human papillomavirus (HPV) may increase the risk of oral cancer.

Another factor that may contribute to developing cancer is age. About 95 percent of all oral cancers occur in persons older than 40, and the average age at the time of diagnosis is about 60.

If you are in the Fort Lauderdale, Miami, or Boca Raton area of Florida and would like to learn more about oral cancer prevention, please contact a SmilePerfect office today.