Drinking This May Increase Your Risk of Oral Cancer, Finds New Study
Teeth can be a tell-tale sign of good health, continual research shows, including one recent study that found the number of teeth at a certain age can hint at an individual’s likelihood to live 100 years.
Indeed the mouth is a window into wellness: Nearly 60,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral cancer this year, estimates the American Cancer Society, and 12,770 could see their lives shortened—and though it’s not too tough to diagnose, it can be difficult to diagnose early. The Cleveland Clinic states that many cases aren’t detected until the cancer has progressed to a late stage.
Dental exams can catch early symptoms, and quitting smoking is one way to minimize oral cancer risk. So, says a new study, is avoiding sugary drinks.
In March 2025, University of Washington otolaryngology doctors (specializing in research and treatment of the ear, nose and throat) released details of their study on the effects of high sugar-sweetened beverages on oral cavity cancer risk in women. (The Mayo Clinic says the term “oral cavity cancer” is synonymous with “oral cancer” or “mouth cancer” and can present on the lips, tongue, cheeks, gums, and both the roof and floor of the mouth.)
Published in the medical journal JAMA Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, the study focused on 162,602 women with an average age of 43 years and included smokers and nonsmokers. It analyzed 30 years of data collected by the Nurses’ Health Study (NHS), which investigated chronic disease risk factors in women’s health. Of the participants, 124 were diagnosed with oral cancer.
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