Why It's Done

The primary goal of oral cancer screening is to identify mouth cancer or precancerous lesions early, when they are easiest to treat and cure.

High-risk individuals, such as those who use tobacco or alcohol heavily, have a previous oral cancer diagnosis, or significant sun exposure, may benefit more from screenings. The rise in mouth and throat cancers, often linked to HPV, underscores the importance of awareness and prevention.

High-risk factors for oral cancer include:

• Tobacco use in any form, such as cigarettes, cigars, pipes, chewing tobacco, and snuff

• Heavy alcohol consumption

• Sexual behavior

• A previous diagnosis of oral cancer

• Significant sun exposure, which increases the risk of lip cancer