We at Dr. Suzanne Haeri’s South Carthay office don’t just help you keep your teeth healthy and looking great, we also provide oral cancer screenings. When patients develop this dangerous disease, dentists are often the first medical professionals to detect it and form an important part of their care team. But we prefer to take a preventive approach, which is why we are educating patients on the connection between oral cancer and alcohol.
It has been known for a while that alcohol in combination with tobacco raises the risk of various kinds of cancer, but the above-linked study, conducted by the American Society of Clinical Oncology, examined alcohol on its own. It found that alcohol is the cause of cancer in 5% of new cases, including oral cancer cases. Most people are unaware of the danger alcohol poses or think only heavy drinking or hard liquors are dangerous, but the study found no connection between cancer alcohol type and that moderate and light drinkers are also at risk.
Scientists have not yet figured out the exact reason alcohol causes oral cancer. But one encouraging finding of the study was that when people stop drinking, their risk of developing cancer in the aerodigestive tract (including the mouth) falls.
Suzanne Haeri, DDS, is located at 1100 S. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles, California, 90035. To set up an appointment, call 310-647-2200 or visit Suzanne Haeri DDS and fill out a request.
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