Reviewed by Maurie Markman, MD, President, Medicine & Science at CTCA

Oral cancer begins in the mouth, also called the oral cavity. This region of the body includes the lips, the inside lining of the lips and cheeks, the teeth, the gums, most of the tongue, the floor of the mouth, and the bony roof of the mouth, or hard palate.

A separate cancer in the mouth region is called oropharyngeal cancer, which is a throat cancer. Oropharyngeal cancer may develop in the oropharynx, the back of the throat behind the mouth. Oropharyngeal cancer may include the back of the tongue, the back of the roof of the mouth, the tonsils and the walls of the upper throat. Oral cancer and oropharyngeal cancer are also considered cancers of the head and neck.

What causes oral or oropharyngeal cancer?

Risk factors that may increase the likelihood of developing oral or oropharyngeal cancer include:

Tobacco use and alcohol use, the most significant risk factor for these diseases

Exposure to ultraviolet light, from prolonged sun exposure or use of tanning beds, increasing the risk of lip cancer

Poor nutrition, with diets low in fruits and vegetables

Poor oral hygiene

Use of betel quid, a leaf from the betel plan that’s wrapped around a crushed areca nut and chewed (sometimes used in combination with chewing tobacco)

Genetic syndromes, especially Fanconi anemia or dyskeratosis congenita

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infectionImmune system suppression, such as to prevent rejection of a transplant organ

Lichen planu

• Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), which may develop after a stem-cell transplant involving bone marrow

Marijuana use, which recent studies have suggested may put individuals more at risk for head and neck cancer

The risk of oral and oropharyngeal cancers increases with age, though people younger than 55 may also develop the diseases. The average age at diagnosis is 62, with two-thirds of people with the cancers over 55.

Men are more than twice as likely as women to develop oral or oropharyngeal cancer. That may be related to the heavy use of alcohol and tobacco products, which is a major risk factor seen more commonly in men than in women.

Oral and oropharyngeal cancer symptoms

Early symptoms of oral cancer and oropharyngeal cancer may be mistaken for other problems, such as a toothache or cold.

Some of the most common symptoms of oral and oropharyngeal cancers include:

Persistent lip or mouth sores that do not heal

Persistent lip or mouth pain

A lump or thickening in the cheek or lips

A white patch or red patch on the lips, gums, tongue, tonsil or lining of the mouth

A sore throat or persistent feeling that something is caught in the throat

Difficulty chewing or swallowing

Difficulty moving the jaw or tongue

Numbness of the tongue or other area of the mouth

Jaw swelling that makes dentures hurt or fit poorly

Loose teeth

Pain in the teeth or jaw

Voice changes

A lump in the neck

Weight loss

Persistent bad breath

Persistent earache