10 Best Dentists Share Advice to Prevent the Risk of Oral Cancer at the Early Stage

1. Sonali Bassi, BDS

Chief Consultant Surgeon, Oracare Cosmetic Dental Clinic, Gurgaon

Tobacco use is identified as a vital cause of oral cancer. Excess alcohol increases oral cancer risk between twofold and sixfold. Poor nutrition, chronic trauma from sharp teeth, and dentures also contribute. Risk reduction involves tobacco cessation, regular dental checkups, and monitoring for mucosal changes. Early detection of small painless ulcers, nodules, or growths through visual inspection enables timely treatment. Primary radiotherapy or surgery with postoperative radiotherapy are treatment options depending on tumor characteristics.

2. Sajid Shaikh, MDS

Consultant and Lecturer, Observer – Tata Memorial Hospital, Smile 4U Family Dental Clinic, Mumbai

Recommendations include eliminating all tobacco use. "Excessive alcohol consumption can irritate the cells in your mouth, making them vulnerable to mouth cancer." Lip protection from sun damage through shade and sunscreen is advised. Any mouth ulcer, swelling, or disfigurement lasting over 15 days warrants specialist consultation. Sharp teeth or prostheses should be addressed immediately. Request comprehensive oral examination during routine dental visits to identify abnormal areas.

3. Arimeeta Chakraverty, BDS, MDS

Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon, Teeth Care Multispeciality Dental Clinic, Kolkata

Oral cancer develops in the mouth, throat, or tongue and can spread systemically. Smoking, tobacco use, and excessive alcohol increase risk. Diagnosis involves examining the mouth, throat, and neck. Smoking and tobacco chewing represent the most common causes in India. Early diagnosis enables successful recovery. Initial symptoms include mild pain, swelling, oral bleeding, swallowing difficulty, and speech changes. Surgical interventions include primary tumor surgery, glossectomy, mandibulectomy, maxillectomy, neck dissection, and reconstruction following positive biopsy and histopathology results.

4. Sreenita Chowdhury, MDS

Preventive & Paediatric Dentistry, Founding Partner – Smileoracles Dental Clinic, Delhi

Regular dental visits include oral cancer and pre-cancer screening. Multiple diagnostic aids detect early-stage cancers and pre-cancers for effective treatment. Prevention strategies include avoiding tobacco and alcohol, reducing spicy food intake, replacing ill-fitting dentures and crowns, addressing sharp teeth causing oral cuts, maintaining healthy diet and lifestyle, and scheduling dental checkups every six months.

5. Jyoti C Bhasin, BDS

Microendodontist (USA), Associate Fellow AAID, Digital Smile Designer, Tooth and Gum Dental Clinic, Agra and Delhi

Excessive tobacco and alcohol use cause oral cancer. Non-healing cheek and tongue ulcers warrant attention. Excessive tooth wear with sharp margins impairs ulcer healing. Prevention involves monitoring for red-white patches and non-healing ulcers exceeding two weeks, avoiding repeated cheek and tongue trauma, managing uncontrollable diabetes, and ceasing tobacco use in all forms (including khaini, gutka and supari). Regular dentist visits enable oral cancer screening.

6. Shrutika Itkelwar, BDS

Implantologist (FICOI) & Chief Clinician, Dentinix Multispeciality Dental Clinic, Bangalore

Oral and pharyngeal cancers are preventable through self-care and healthy choices. Prevention includes avoiding smoking, tobacco, and passive smoke exposure that causes leukoplakia, moderating alcohol consumption, seeking early cancer diagnosis from dentists, obtaining HPV vaccination for oropharyngeal cancer prevention, and protecting lips from sun exposure. Early diagnosis substantially improves treatment success.

7. Abhishek Bhardwaj, BDS, MDS

MomsRcps (Glasgow), FICD (USA), Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, Abhirachna Dental Clinic, Delhi

Oral cancer ranks among India's most serious malignancies with the third-highest incidence nationally. Tobacco and alcohol predominate as causative factors in any form, smokeless varieties like khaini and gutkha or smoked forms. Oral cancer typically manifests as white patches in the oral cavity associated with tobacco use. Recurrent cheek trauma from improperly erupted wisdom teeth increases risk. Ulcers unhealed after two weeks require dental consultation. Early-stage diagnosis correlates with superior recovery rates, making prognosis stage-dependent.

8. Nirali Patel, BDS, PGDHHM

Cosmetic Dentist & Implantologist, PG Oral Implantology, PG Aesthetic Dentistry, Manipal Smile Craft Dental Studio Satellite, Ahmedabad

Mouth cancer falls within head and neck cancer classifications. Prognosis varies based on affected mouth area and surrounding tissue spread. "If diagnosed early, a complete cure is often possible in up to 9 in 10 cases using surgery alone." Extensive cancers still offer cure prospects with surgery followed by radiotherapy or combined radiotherapy-chemotherapy. Medical advancements have improved cure rates substantially, with approximately "6 in 10 people with mouth cancer" living at least five years post-diagnosis, many experiencing longer survival without recurrence.

9. Haritha, BDS

Implantologist, Dr Haritha Tooth Align Multi Speciality Dental Clinic and Implant Centre, Bangalore

Oral cancer ranks as the 11th most common cancer, affecting lips, mouth, tongue, gum, floor of mouth, palate, and involving lymph node enlargement. Regular dental visits facilitate early detection. Precancerous lesions include leukoplakia, erythroplakia, oral submucous fibrosis, lichen planus, and chronic traumatic ulcers. Regular physical examination and biopsy in precancerous patients prevent progression. Oesophagus, larynx, and lymph node assessment is recommended. Prevention involves tobacco cessation, HPV vaccination, healthy diet, and polishing sharp traumatic teeth. Early detection without lymph node involvement enables cure through surgery or radiotherapy without functional or cosmetic defects. TNM assessment precedes treatment planning.

10. Dr. Manisha Mehta & Dr. Sanket Mehta, BDS

Cosmetic/Aesthetic Dentist, Implantologist, Dental Surgeon, Smile Studio Dental Clinic, Mumbai

Poor oral hygiene increases mouth and throat cancer risk. Heavy drinking, tobacco use, and betel nut chewing are associated carcinogenic factors that damage cellular DNA, eventually causing cancer. "People with poor oral hygiene are at a 56% higher risk for developing HPV." This virus thrives at the tongue base, and bacterial growth causes cell changes. HPV represents the leading pharyngeal cancer cause. Prevention includes regular brushing, flossing, dental visits, and avoiding tobacco and alcohol.