HPV linked to oral cancers

HONOLULU, Aug. 31 (UPI) -- A U.S. dentist warns a link between human papilloma virus and oral cancer indicates patients should visit a dentist twice a year to catch irregularities.

The study, published in General Dentistry, finds that oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma is linked to high-risk HPV strains -- the same strains that cause cervical cancer -- and that HPV vaccines may decrease the risk of oral cancers.

"More than 100 strains of HPV have been identified," said study author James Closmann, of the Tripler Army Medical Center, in Honolulu. "They have been shown to cause other benign and malignant disorders, which now include those in the mouth. Nearly 30,000 new cases of oral and oropharyngeal cancer are reported each year."

Dentists should perform a head and neck exam to detect early signs of oropharyngeal cancers, advises Closmann.

Laura Murcko, spokeswoman for the Academy of General Dentistry advises HPV patients to:

-- Keep the dentist informed about changes in oral health.

-- Visit the dentist regularly to detect changes.

-- Ask the dentist to take a full medical history to determine risks for certain problems.