Oral HPV and Oral Cancer : Are you at Risk?

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common virus groups in the world. There are many different types of HPV, and the health risk varies depending upon the type of virus. While some types of HPV are low-risk and may cause skin lesions such as warts, there are other HPV types that are classified as high-risk. These high-risk HPV types may cause an HPV infection that may lead to cancer. For example, medical research shows that these same high-risk tyes are linked to approximately 90% of cervical cancers. Similarly, recent studies show that these same high-risk types cause cancers of the mouth, tongue, tonsils and throat areas. Along with excessive smoking and alcohol consumption, specific types of oral HPV are now considered to be a separate and serious risk factor for developing cancer in the head and neck region.

HPV transmission of the most common types can be quite simple. With just close contact between people, the infection can be spread. These types of HPV are considered to be low-risk. However, the more serious types pf HPV (high-risk group) that may lead to cervical cancer or oral cancer are known to be sexually transmitted. Both males and females are at risk when intimate contact is made with HPV-infected individuals. Individuals at greatest risk are those that are in intimate relationships with HPV-infected partners.

Early oral HPV infections do not typically cause any clinical signs or symptoms; thus a visual exam would not detect people that may already have an infection caused by HPV. Today, however, a simple test called OraRisk HPV is available from your dental professional who can perform this test as part of your routine oral exam. You will be asked to "swish and gargle" a sterile saline solution for 30 seconds. You will then empty the saline from your mouth into a small coded container that will be sent to OralDNA Labs for processing. The results will be sent to your dentist and they will contact you to discuss them.

For more information please visit http://www.cdc.gov/ or http://www.oralcancerfoundation.org/