HJAR Nov/Dec 2025

40 NOV / DEC 2025 I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS ORAL HEALTH symptoms. 6 This early detection is critical since it increases survival rates and prevents malignant progression, thus enabling the pa- tient to have a better quality of life. 7 The Rise of HPV-Related Oral Cancers Oral and oropharyngeal cancer risk fac- tors include use of cigarettes and tobacco and heavy alcohol use. On the rise as a risk factor is the human papillomavirus (HPV). Research indicates that most oropharyngeal cancers (70%) are caused by HPV infection. 8 With cases of oropharyngeal cancers in- creasing each year, they are now the most common HPV-related cancer in the U.S. 9 (Cervical cancer remains the most com- mon HPV-related cancer for women. Oro- pharyngeal cancers are the most common HPV-associated cancers for men. 10 ) HPV is prevalent. The majority of sexually active people become infected with HPV, and most never know they have it. 11 It is the most common sexually transmitted infection on the planet, making it not only a public health issue, but a global health issue. 12 There are over 200 related types of HPV, and 14 of these infections are a high-risk type, including HPV 16 and 18. 13 DIALOGUE COLUMN ORAL HEALTH THERE are several important reasons to visit the dentist. At the top of the list should be receiving an oral cancer screening, which is part of the evaluation during a cleaning. Oral cancer accounts for 3% of all types of cancers, according to CDC. 1 The various types of oral cancers are known as head and neck cancers. Specifically, cancer starting in the oral cavity is called oral cancer. Cancer be- ginning in the middle portion of the throat is referred to as oropharyngeal cancer. 2 Collec- tively, oral cancers account for 80% to 90% of all head and neck cancers. 3 Oropharyngeal and oral cancer signs and symptoms can range from a wide variety of manifestations including: • A long-lasting sore throat; • Earache; • Hoarseness; • Swollen lymph nodes; • Pain or fullness when swallowing; • Unexplained weight loss; • A sore or ulcer on the lip or intraorally that doesn’t heal; • Pain or burning sensation that doesn’t go away; • A lump or thickening in the lips, mouth, cheek, or jaw; • A white or red patch on the gums, tongue, tonsils, or lining of the mouth; • A sore throat or a constant sensation that something is caught in the throat; • Difficulty chewing or swallowing; • Difficulty moving the jaw or tongue as normal; • Numbness of the tongue, lips, or other area of the mouth; • Swelling or pain in the jaw; • Dentures that become uncomfortable or start to fit differently; • Loosening of the teeth or pain around the teeth; • Voice changes; • A lump or mass in the neck or back of the throat; and • Unexplained bleeding or bleeding when coughing. 4 Historically, the death rate for oral cancer was high, not because it’s hard to detect or diagnose, but because cancer was discov- ered at a late stage. 5 Some patients have no symptoms, and when symptoms appear, the cancer has already spread, whichmakes early detection essential. The dentist is often the first healthcare professional to notice an intraoral irregularity, even before there are The Link Between HPV and Oral and Oropharyngeal Cancers: More Reasons to Visit the Dentist