Causes of Oral Cancer
Perhaps the most significant risk factor for developing oral cancer is tobacco use. Smoking cigarettes, cigars, and pipes all increase your risk of cancer anywhere in the mouth or throat. Moreover, smokeless or oral tobacco products often called "dip" or "chew," heighten the risk for developing cancers of the cheek, gums, and inner part of the lips.

Other risk factors linked to the development of oral cancer include:

Heavy alcohol consumption: Risk dramatically increases when a person both smokes and drinks heavily.

Human papillomavirus (HPV), especially HPV type 16, which is transmitted through sexual contact

Eating a diet deficient in fruits and vegetables

Being exposed to excess sunlight (increases risk for lip cancer)
Having a weakened immune system

Having certain underlying health problems like graft-versus-host disease or a genetic syndrome like Fanconi anemia

Chewing betel quid, a stimulant drug that's ingested like chewing tobacco and often mixed with tobacco