Tobacco use is the leading cause of mouth and throat cancers. All forms—cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, and snuff—contain cancer-causing chemicals. Even cigars, though often not inhaled, can increase the risk of mouth and lip cancer up to tenfold. As cigarette use declines, many people have turned to smokeless tobacco, wrongly believing it’s safer. In reality, it simply shifts the cancer risk from the lungs to the mouth, where the vast majority of oral cancers begin.

Frequent alcohol use is a major risk factor for mouth and throat cancer. About 75% of patients with oral cancer report regular alcohol consumption, and the risk increases dramatically when combined with tobacco use. Alcohol can irritate the cells in the mouth and throat, making them more vulnerable to damage from other carcinogens—especially those in tobacco. This combination creates a multiplying effect, significantly raising the likelihood of developing tumors in the head and neck region.