Rotten teeth may actually induce tongue cancer? What are the causes of tongue cancer

Tongue cancer is a relatively common type of oral cancer (cancer of the lips, tongue, cheeks, palate, gums, and floor of mouth). Rotten teeth (residual crowns and roots) in the marginal area of ​​the tongue and senile tooth wear cause long-term mechanical stimulation and chronic damage to the tongue mucosa by sharp non-functional tooth tips or occlusal marginal ridges. This is often the main factor in the occurrence of tongue cancer. Bad habits such as alcoholism and smoking, which cause long-term stimulation to the tongue mucosa, are also closely related to the incidence of tongue cancer. In addition, most tongue cancer patients have poor oral hygiene and often suffer from diseases such as periodontitis, which causes the oral mucosa to be invaded by bacteria for a long time, causing chronic injuries at the edge of the root of the tongue to be constantly infected, and the erosion wounds to not heal for a long time, which is also an important factor in the occurrence of tongue cancer.

How to prevent tongue cancer?

Removing the causes of tongue cancer and enhancing the body's resistance are effective measures to prevent tongue cancer. The specific methods are:

① Pay attention to oral hygiene, brush your teeth every morning and evening, and rinse your mouth after meals; have an oral examination 1-2 times a year, and seek timely treatment for tooth and periodontal diseases. If any lesions are found, they should be removed as soon as possible.

② If there are cavities, they should be filled early; the residual crowns and roots that can be repaired and used should be treated in time to restore the normal anatomical shape of the teeth as soon as possible; the residual crowns and roots that are difficult to cure and use should be removed in time and replaced with dentures on time even if there are no symptoms such as inflammation and pain.

③ Grind the sharp non-functional cusps and marginal ridges to make the cusps and marginal ridges on the occlusal surface of the crown rounded and blunt to prevent damage to the lingual marginal tissue.

④ If benign lesions or precancerous lesions are found, such as papilloma of the tongue or erosive lichen planus, they should be promptly removed and biopsied, or actively treated and observed regularly.

⑤ Quit bad habits such as smoking and drinking; strengthen physical exercise, improve nutrition, eat more fresh fruits rich in vitamins and have anti-cancer and anti-cancer effects, which are also very important for preventing the occurrence of tongue cancer.

Tongue cancer is the most common malignant tumor in the oral cavity, and it has many causes.

Causes of Tongue Cancer

1. External factors:

① Chronic infection: Inflammation or ulcers on the tongue that do not heal for a long time may tend to become cancerous.

②Poor oral hygiene.

③ Mechanical stimulation: residual crowns and roots of teeth, sharp gingival edges, poor denture restorations, especially metal dentures, can cause long-term stimulation of the tongue mucosa to produce ulcers, and eventually lead to cancer.

④ Chemical factors: Aromatic hydrocarbons in tobacco are carcinogenic, especially for cigar or pipe smokers. Long-term drinkers of strong alcohol have 15 times more chance of developing oral cancer. This phenomenon shows that the stimulation of tobacco and alcohol is also one of the causes of tongue cancer.

2. Internal factors:

① After the age of 40, the epithelial layer of the tongue gradually shrinks, and the resistance to harmful external stimuli is weakened, making it more susceptible to cancer;

② Malnutrition: Vitamin A and B vitamins deficiency can easily lead to cancer;

③ Other benign diseases of the tongue mucosa may become malignant, such as leukoplakia and erythema on the tongue mucosa, ulceration or nodules, which may lead to malignant transformation. Leukoplakia and erythema are called precancerous lesions because they have similar characteristics to squamous cell carcinoma in histology. Erythema and leukoplakia are often accompanied by oral cancer, especially erythema, which has a greater tendency to become malignant.

Ways to prevent tongue cancer

1. Quit bad habits such as smoking and drinking

Strengthening physical exercise, improving nutrition, and eating more fruits rich in vitamins and with anti-cancer and anti-cancer effects are also important for preventing and caring for the occurrence of tongue cancer.

2. Pay attention to oral hygiene, brush your teeth every morning and evening, and rinse your mouth after meals

Oral clinical diagnostic examinations should be performed 1-2 times a year. When tooth and periodontal diseases are found, they should be treated immediately. If there are any signs of disease, they should be removed as soon as possible.

3. If there are cavities, they should be filled early.

The residual crowns and roots that can be repaired should be treated in time to restore the normal anatomical shape of the teeth as soon as possible; the residual crowns and roots that are difficult to cure should be removed in time and replaced with dentures on time even if there are no symptoms such as inflammation and pain.

4. Grind sharp non-functional cusps and marginal ridges

Make the cusp and marginal ridge of the occlusal surface of the crown rounded and blunt to prevent damage to the lingual marginal tissue.