Oral cancer screenings are one of the many services we provide our patients at Riverwalk Dental in Calgary. A dentist is often the first health professional to detect a case of oral cancer and remains important throughout the care process. As part of our goal of combatting this disease, we wanted to share the findings of a study by the American Society of Clinical Oncology that found a relationship between oral cancer and alcohol use.
The new study found that about 5% of new cancer cases globally are due to alcohol. This statistic included oral and throat cancers. While it has long been known that smoking and alcohol combined presented an oral cancer risk, the new study examined alcohol in isolation. The exact cause-and-effect remains unclear, but scientists suppose that alcohol may break down oral tissues and there is a chance for a DNA copy error to occur every time they regrow.
The study found that the type of alcohol consumed appeared to be irrelevant and that, while heavy drinking presented the greatest risk, moderate and light drinking could also lead to cancer. However, it also found that the risk of cancer in the mouth and the rest of the aerodigestive tract declined if the subject stopped drinking.
Dr. Jared Palmer and his team operate Riverwalk Dental at 540 6th Avenue SE, Calgary, Alberta, T2G 1K5, Canada. To schedule an appointment, call 1-403-456-4994 or visit Riverwalk Dental.
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