- Cancer of the Tongue -
Smoking Facts About Mouth and Oral Cancers

Your risk for cancer of the tongue and other oral cancers increases dramatically if you smoke. The smoking facts show that a heavy smoker would have the highest risk for mouth and throat cancer as the oral health risks of smoking increase with the amount smoked.

Oral cancers are considered to be a "lifestyle" disease.

The association with smoking is very strong and almost all oral cancers occur in smokers. Heavy smokers are at the highest risk if they also use alcohol heavily.

Smoking Facts about Mouth and Oral Cancers

Did you know that Sigmund Freud the father of modern psychiatry died of oral cancer?

During the last 15 years of his life he had many surgeries that resulted in artificial replacements for his jaw. He was in constant pain.

He tried many times to quit cigar smoking but suffered what he considered to be intolerable effects of nicotine withdrawal that included lack of clarity in thinking and mental depression.

(see Symptoms of Depression)

He smoked until the end of his life at age 83.

Ironically in contemporary psychiatry, drug addiction is considered to be a mental illness.

(See the Signs of Drug Addiction.)

-Here is What We Know-

The Smoking Facts about Oral Cancers

• more than 8,000 people die every year in the US from mouth cancer. In Canada the 2009 estimates are 1150 deaths from mouth and oral cancers.


• over 400,000 new cases of oral cancers are found worldwide every year (including larynx cancer)


• the longer you smoke the greater your risk for oral cancer. The number one risk factor for cancer of the tongue and oral cancers in people over 50 is the use of tobacco in fact 95% of oral cancers occur in people over the age of 40.


• 75% of the people diagnosed with oral cancer over the age of 50 will be smokers.


• In younger people a diagnosis of cancer of the tongue is almost always associated with the use of chewing tobacco.


• The most common location for an oral cancer to develop is on the tongue or on the floor of the mouth.


• In order to detect oral cancers early many dental hygienists will conduct a oral cancer examination as part of your regular dental hygiene appointment.


• 75% of oral cancers occur in people who use alcohol, tobacco, or both alcohol and tobacco.


• the death rate is high and has not improved in the last 30 years. Of all the people who are diagnosed with mouth and throat cancer this year only about 50% will still be alive 5 years from now.


• The combined use of alcohol and tobacco create an even higher risk. Heavy smokers who use alcohol have a 15 times greater chance of developing cancer of the tongue and oral cavity.


• the incidence rate of cancer of the tongue and oral cavity in women is increasing. It used to be 6 times as prevalent in men over women and now it is only 2 times as prevalent. This statistical trend is similar for women and lung cancer.

Reduce Your Oral Health Risks of Smoking

You can stop the oral health risks of smoking if you quit smoking now. In fact when you quit smoking cigarettes you not only reduce your risk of oral cancer but if you have already received a diagnosis, quitting smoking reduces the chance that you will get a second cancer in the head and neck region.

Go back to Diseases Caused By Smoking - Facts on the Health Dangers of Smoking Cigarettes

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