India tops in oral cancer cases

NT Correspondent

Oral cancer has emerged as the number one cancer among men in India. The country has the highest number of oral cancer cases in the world, and one-third of the total burden of oral cancer globally.

The habit of chewing tobacco and gutka is one of the leading causes for the rise in incidence of oral cancer in India.

The other oral diseases include dental cavities and gum diseases, which form a significant chunk of oral health problems among Indians. Though there is no baseline data regarding its exact prevalence, it is estimated that more than half of Indians suffer from some kind of an oral health problem including dental caries and gum diseases.

Dr Tausif Ahmed Thangalvadi, Medical Director, NURA: “Considering the high prevalence of oral diseases in the country, it is important for everyone to regularly undergo oral check-ups. These check-ups need to go beyond mere visual inspection by a dentist, as there are a variety of oral diseases that need specialized diagnostic devices to be detected.”

He added: “A specialized oral health screening should check for diseases and disorders of the mouth such as ulcers and mucosal patches like black and white patches, cancerous lesions like leukoplakia, changes occurring due to smoking, tobacco consumption and pan chewing, cavities, gum diseases, gingival issues, inability to fully open the mouth and a check-up for previous or ongoing dental treatments.”

Advanced health screening centres like NURA use a fluorescent light technology-based device for oral inspection for accurate and precise outcomes. Using a combination of white light and blue light, as many as 12 images of the oral cavity are taken, including below the tongue and gum areas. These images are then run through advanced artificial intelligence (AI) software which gives its interpretation regarding oral health. These Ai interpretations assist the dentist in making comprehensive oral health reports and offer advice.

Thangalvadi said that most of oral health problems can tackle if detected early. “It is therefore recommended that you make oral health screening a part of your annual health check-up program,” he added.