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A healthy lifestyle can protect against mouth cancer
Smoking is the most common cause of mouth cancer, and can increase your risk of developing the condition by several times. Research has found that switching to low-tar cigarettes does not help either as users are likely to inhale more smoke to compensate.
The risk is the same for users of all forms of tobacco, including chewing tobacco, paan, areca nut and gutkha.
How can I stop smoking?
- speak to your pharmacist about nicotine replacement such as chewing gum or patches
- contact a local group that can offer advice and support - see the Links section on this website for more information
Although much less documented, drinking alcohol to excess poses almost as big a risk as smoking when it comes to mouth cancer.
In addition, because alcohol helps tobacco to absorb into the mouth, people who smoke and drink to excess are up to 30 times more likely to develop the condition.
The important thing is not the type of drink consumed (e.g. lager, spirits) but the total volume of alcohol.
It is recommended that men drink no more than 3-4 units per day and women drink no more than 2-3. (One unit is equivalent to ½ pint of lager, a single measure of spirits or a small glass of wine)
There are other things you can do to help reduce your risk of developing mouth cancer:
- avoid excessive exposure to sunlight to help prevent lip cancer
- eat green and yellow fresh fruit and vegetables every day - bananas, peppers, broccoli, beans and cabbage are good sources of beta-carotene that can help to prevent other cancers too
- get medical advice if an ulcer or white or red patch does not clear after three weeks
Visit the dentist regularly, as often as they recommend.
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