Recently, 42-year-old South Korean singer Jung Mi-ae revealed in a variety show that she was diagnosed with stage three tongue cancer in December 2021, and stated that “tooth decay may be one of the causes of cancer”.
This inevitably raises doubts: “Can tooth decay really cause tongue cancer? What symptoms should we be alert to?” This article will delve into these questions.
Tongue Cancer: An Unwelcome Guest on the Tongue
Tongue cancer, in simple terms, is a malignant tumor that appears on the tongue.
Tongue cancer is the most common type of oral cancer, usually occurring in the middle one-third of the lateral border of the tongue, followed by the ventral and dorsal surfaces of the tongue, with the tip of the tongue being the least affected.
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According to the UICC (International Union Against Cancer) classification, tongue cancer is mainly divided into two regions: the anterior 2/3 (tongue body) belongs to the category of oral cancer, and the posterior 1/3 (tongue base) belongs to the category of oropharyngeal cancer. Tongue cancer is slightly more common in men, but in recent years, there has been a trend of increasing incidence in women and younger ages.
Early tongue cancer can be asymptomatic or only have mild pain or a foreign body sensation; in the oral cavity, one can often see ulcers or tumors that do not heal for a long time, surrounded by precancerous lesions such as leukoplakia or papillomas, or there is chronic irritation in the corresponding area, such as residual roots, sharp tooth tips, and poor restorations, etc.
As the condition progresses,the pain gradually increases, if secondary infection occurs or the tongue base is invaded, severe pain can occur, which can radiate to the ear and temporal area.
If the tumor invades the muscles responsible for tongue movement, there may be limited tongue movement or tongue stiffness, affecting speech, eating, and swallowing.
Due to the rich lymphatic and blood circulation in the tongue and the frequent movement of the tongue, tongue cancer may have lymph node metastasis early on, manifesting as enlarged and hardened lymph nodes in the jaw or neck.
Treatment of Tongue Cancer
For early-stage tongue cancer with a small lesion range, the main treatment is surgery + selective neck dissection, which can preserve more healthy tissue and reduce the impact on eating, swallowing, and pronunciation.
Advanced tongue cancer requires a comprehensive approach through surgery + radiochemotherapy, in which case, more tissue may need to be removed or even total glossectomy may be necessary. When the tongue defect is large, a flap transfer is needed to restore the shape and function of the tongue. The neck dissection range is larger, and the risks are higher.
What are the risk factors for tongue cancer?
The causes of tongue cancer are not yet fully understood, and the possible causes include:
01 External Stimuli Factors
Such as long-term chronic stimulation of local factors like
remaining roots, remaining crowns, poor restorations, tobacco, alcohol, betel nut chewing, etc.
Including
neurological and mental factors, endocrine disorders, decreased immune system function, and genetic factors, etc.
Such as
leukoplakia, erythroplakia, lichen planus, and papillomas, etc.
Yes, it may also be related to
Human Papillomavirus（HPV） infection.
Can tooth decay cause tongue cancer?
It is not difficult to see from the above risk factors that tooth decay itself does not directly cause tongue cancer.
Only when tooth decay develops to a certain extent, and the destroyed part of the tooth becomes rough or sharp, constantly rubbing and stimulating the edge of the tongue, this long-term physical stimulation, leading to repeated damage, congestion, and hyperplasia of the local cells of the tongue, may eventually lead to genetic mutations and canceration.
The formation of cancer is not an overnight event, but a long-term and progressive process, so there is no need to panic. Just treat tooth decay in time.
Can oral ulcers lead to canceration?
Although oral ulcers are one of the manifestations of oral cancer, the nature of these cancerous ulcers is completely different from ordinary oral ulcers.
The “ulcers” we often refer to, caused by “internal heat”, are mainly recurrent aphthous ulcers,which usually heal within 7-10 days. Although they are prone to recurrent attacks, each attack is not in the same fixed location. This type of ulcer is considered “benign”, meaning that the ulcer surface has not had time to become cancerous before it heals, so there is no need to worry.
What needs to be vigilant is the ulcers in the same area that do not heal for a long time
, such as ulcers in a certain area that have not healed for more than 3 months, ulcers with irregular shapes or cauliflower-like appearance, accompanied by bleeding, etc. In such cases, one should go to the hospital for examination in time.
What can we do in daily life?
Here are some tips for your reference:
01 Maintain good oral hygiene
Brush your teeth morning and night, use dental floss to clean between your teeth, have regular dental cleanings, and promptly remove plaque to create a clean environment for your mouth and prevent oral diseases.
Do not chew betel nut and other harmful substances, stay away from tobacco and alcohol, and avoid long-term damage to the oral mucosa.
03 Pay attention to a healthy diet
Eat a balanced diet, consume more fresh vegetables and fruits, and avoid long-term consumption of overly hot, spicy, and irritating foods.
04 Regular oral examinations
Regularly undergo oral health check-ups to detect and treat oral diseases in a timely manner.
Discover and treat cavities in a timely manner, deal with remaining roots, remaining crowns, malpositioned teeth, and sharp tooth tips in the oral cavity in a timely manner, remove poor restorations, avoid wearing unsuitable dentures, and prevent long-term adverse stimulation to the tongue.
06 Seek medical attention in time
If you have rapidly growing hard nodules in the tongue or persistent ulcers, limited tongue movement, difficulty in eating and swallowing, seek medical attention in time and treat actively.
Oral health is an important part of overall health. Although tooth decay can indeed be one of the causes of tongue cancer, we can greatly reduce the risk through active prevention and treatment. Let’s start today, pay attention to every brushing, every oral examination, and start healthy living from “teeth”!
