Which statement about oral cancer is true?

• A. It has decreased in recent years
• B. It is primarily caused by smokeless forms of tobacco and excessive alcohol ingestion
• C. It is not related to tobacco or alcohol
• D. It is easily prevented by brushing

Answer: (B)

Oral cancer risk is strongly tied to certain lifestyle factors, especially tobacco use and heavy alcohol consumption. Carcinogens in tobacco damage the cells lining the mouth, and smokeless tobacco exposes the oral mucosa directly, increasing cancer risk even without smoking. Alcohol acts as a solvent that helps these carcinogens penetrate tissue and damage DNA; using both together raises risk more than either alone. So identifying smokeless tobacco and excessive alcohol as major contributors is accurate. Brushing alone cannot prevent oral cancer, and saying there’s no relation to tobacco or alcohol ignores well-established connections. Reducing risk involves avoiding tobacco products and limiting alcohol.