Alcohol and tobacco linked to three out of four oral cancer cases in Spain

18.06.2025 - Quitting alcohol and tobacco could stop most cases of oral cancer in Spain, according to figures released for European Oral Cancer Day. The Spanish General Council of Dentists, drawing on several odonto-stomatology reviews, calculates that about 75 percent of tumours in the mouth and throat would never appear if both habits disappeared.

“Oral cancer is more common than people think and its prevalence keeps rising,” said Dr Raquel Menacho García, a dentist with the Dental Unit at Quirónsalud Toledo. Her team chose the 12 June awareness day to highlight prevention, stressing that alcohol and smoking act together: heavy drinking irritates the lining of the mouth, allowing carcinogens in smoke to do greater damage.

Incidence still climbing

The Spanish Network of Cancer Registries (REDECAN) estimated 7 603 new cancers of the oral cavity and pharynx in 2024. Survival remains poor because many tumours are picked up late, even though oral squamous-cell carcinoma—the diagnosis in roughly 90 percent of cases—can often be cured when found early.

Early signs to watch

Early detection dominated this year’s campaign. Dr Milagros Díaz Rodríguez, who heads the High-Risk Dentistry Unit at Ruber Internacional Centro Médico Habana, listed the danger signals:

• ulcers that last longer than 15 days,

• white or red patches that do not fade,

• persistent lumps or pain, and

• any unexplained change in the structure of the mouth.

“Self-examination once a month and regular dental visits—once a year, or every six months for people who drink or smoke—make the difference between routine treatment and life-threatening disease,” she said. Dentists can take biopsies on the spot if a lesion looks suspicious.

Why alcohol matters

Alcohol on its own is a proven carcinogen for oral tissues, and the danger multiplies when drinking and smoking occur together. Removing both exposures therefore offers the greatest protective effect, a point repeatedly underlined by Spain’s dental community.

Other risk factors

Clinicians also point to prolonged sun exposure of the lips, infection with human papillomavirus (HPV-16), poor oral hygiene, a diet low in fruit and vegetables, age over 40, male sex and family predisposition. Yet these factors do not match the impact of alcohol and tobacco, which dominate Spain’s risk landscape.

Practical advice

• Stop drinking and smoking.

• Use lip sunscreen during outdoor activities.

• Eat a balanced diet rich in fruit and vegetables.

• Keep the mouth clean with a soft brush and gentle technique.

• Stay hydrated; oncology patients may need saliva gels.

• Visit the dentist at least yearly—more often if any risk factor is present.

Outlook

When caught in its earliest stage, oral cancer has a better than 90 percent cure rate. Spain’s dentists argue that the goal should be prevention, not just early diagnosis. Cutting alcohol and tobacco use, they say, would spare thousands of Spaniards from disfiguring surgery and harsh cancer therapy each year.

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Source: Quirónsalud

and Quirónsalud