What Do Warts Have to Do With the Mouth?

I chose a catchy title in hopes you’d keep reading — think of it as a little “clickbait” for a good cause. There’s a growing oral health concern in our community that deserves attention. For many years, oral cancer mainly affected older men with long histories of smoking and alcohol use. But today, younger people are increasingly at risk. So you might be wondering: “What does this have to do with me?”

HPV: More Than a Common Wart Virus

Most of us know that the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) can cause skin and genital warts. What many don’t realize is that there are more than 100 types of HPV, and a few of them can lead to serious disease. Two specific strains are well-known for causing cervical cancer, which is why HPV vaccination is recommended for most girls and women — it is one of the rare vaccines that truly prevents cancer.

The Connection to Oral Cancer

In recent years, healthcare providers have seen a significant rise in cancers of the tonsils and upper throat, especially among younger men. The surprising part?These cancers are often linked to the exact same HPV strains that cause cervical cancer.

The good news is that extensive research shows the HPV vaccine is highly effective for everyone — including young men of high school and college age. Vaccination helps protect against HPV-related oral, throat, and other cancers before exposure ever occurs.

Your Dental Team Is on the Front Lines

Dentists and dental hygienists are trained to screen for early signs of cancer in the mouth, head, and neck. Sometimes that means spotting small “warty” growths or unusual lesions. When we find them, we remove and biopsy them so a pathologist can determine exactly what they are.

Most of these growths turn out to be benign — simple oral papillomas caused by non-dangerous strains of HPV. Thankfully, none that we’ve seen in our office have been associated with the high-risk cancer-causing types.

But when it comes to your health, it always pays to be safe rather than sorry.