What causes tongue cancer?

1. Poor oral hygiene, leading to bacterial and fungal growth, can easily trigger tongue cancer. 2. Long-term tobacco and alcohol use, especially smoking and drinking habits, significantly increase the risk of tongue cancer. Data show that individuals with such habits have an incidence rate up to 15 times higher than those who neither smoke nor drink. 3. Chronic irritation from foreign objects—such as residual tooth roots or crowns, sharp tooth edges, or ill-fitting dentures—can continuously irritate the tongue mucosa and may lead to malignant transformation. 4. Leukoplakia of the tongue mucosa is considered a precancerous lesion, and its malignant transformation may result in tongue cancer. 5. Internal bodily factors such as endocrine disorders, decreased immune function, and genetic predisposition may also contribute to the development of tongue cancer. Prevention of tongue cancer requires a comprehensive approach, including improving oral hygiene, avoiding tobacco and alcohol exposure, and promptly addressing any irritating factors within the oral cavity.