Oral Cancer and Soda—New Research Suggests There May Be a Link Inflammation, insulin resistance, and other factors may explain why, experts said
A recent study found that drinking at least one sugar beverage a week was linked to a higher risk of oral cancer in women
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- New research found that drinking at least one sugary beverage a week was linked to a nearly five-times greater risk of oral cavity cancer in women.
- Sugar from these beverages may fuel inflammation and cell damage in the mouth, creating an environment where cancer cells could develop more easily, experts said.
- To protect your oral health, experts recommend cutting back on sugary drinks and seeing a dentist regularly.
Most people know sugar-sweetened beverages like soda aren’t necessarily the most nutritious choice. Now, new research has found another potential health risk linked to these sugary drinks—oral cavity cancer.
The study, published last month in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, found a connection between higher consumption of sugary drinks and a greater risk of oral cavity cancer (OCC) in women.
Researchers used data from 162,602 women, 124 of whom developed OCC.
They discovered that OCC risk was 4.87 times higher in women who consumed at least one sugar-sweetened beverage each week compared to those who consumed less than one of these drinks each month.
And this higher cancer risk was present regardless of whether the women engaged in unhealthy lifestyle behaviors such as smoking or drinking. Among women who avoided tobacco and alcohol, drinking at least one sugary beverage a day was linked to a 5.46 times higher OCC risk compared to women who consumed less than one sugary drink monthly.
OCC refers to cancers that form in the mouth, including on the tongue, gums, or tonsils. It’s more commonly seen in men and in those who drink alcohol heavily or use tobacco products. The U.S. is expected to see nearly 60,000 new cases of oral cavity and oropharyngeal (mid-throat) cancers in 2025.
But around the world, experts have noticed “an increasing incidence of oral cavity cancer in non-smoking women,” senior study author Brittany Barber, MD, associate professor in the Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Washington, told Health.
This study could be a jumping-off point for future investigations into whether diet might be behind this rise.
“Even in women who don’t smoke or drink heavily, frequent consumption of sugary drinks may significantly increase their risk [of OCC],” said Jason Auerbach, DDS, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon and co-CEO of MAX Surgical Specialty Management in New Jersey. “That’s pretty significant because it introduces a modifiable risk factor—something people can actually control.”
Why Might Drinking Sugary Beverages Increase Oral Cancer Risk?
To understand how soda, fruit drinks, energy drinks, and other sugar-sweetened beverages might make a person more likely to get oral cavity cancer, it’s helpful to look at well-established risk factors for the cancer.
Though there are other factors (including long-term gum disease, genetics, or poorly-fitting dentures), the most significant are “the ‘big three’ risk factors”—tobacco, alcohol, and human papilloma virus (HPV), Auerbach told Health.
Tobacco and alcohol are considered carcinogens. But they can also produce chronic inflammation and changes in a person’s oral microbiome, Barber explained.
Barber and her colleagues hypothesized that something similar might be going on with sugar-sweetened drinks: “High sugar consumption in the form of beverages may prompt chronic inflammation,” she said.
Again, this sugar intake and inflammation can alter the oral microbiome, driving increases in harmful bacteria and greater oxidative stress, “which may contribute to DNA damage and cancer risk,” said Auerbach. Simply, sugary beverages may be able to create “an environment where cancerous cells can develop more easily,” he added.
Beyond inflammation, there are a couple of other potential explanations for this connection, said Auerbach. For one, sugary drinks such as sodas and sports drinks “are highly acidic,” he said. This means they can damage the soft tissue (or oral mucosa) in the mouth over time, he explained, making cells potentially more vulnerable to cancerous changes.
Plus, excess sugar consumption can lead to insulin resistance, Auerbach said, which can in turn increase levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), a hormone “associated with cancer growth.”
For now, though, Barber emphasized that we can’t definitively say that sugar-sweetened beverages cause OCC. Her and her colleagues’ research simply found an association.
There were other limitations to the study, too. There weren’t many events—that is, OCC cases—recorded from the provided data, and the study included only women, meaning it might not be generalizable to male patients at large.
Should You Cut Sugar-Sweetened Beverages From Your Diet?
In general, reducing your intake of sugary drinks is a good move for your health, said Auerbach.
“Excess sugar is bad for oral health, leading to common dental issues like cavities, gum disease, and inflammation,” he explained. “Patients with high sugar intake often have significant dental issues, and chronic inflammation in the mouth is a known precursor to various diseases.”
Plus, high amounts of sugar intake have been tied to other health risks, including diabetes and heart disease, Auerbach added.
When it comes to OCC risk in particular, this study does suggest that “regularly consuming sugar-sweetened beverages—especially in large amounts—could increase your risk over time,” Auerbach said. “For people who are already at higher risk—smokers, drinkers, those with a family history of oral cancer—this is another reason to rethink their diet.”
However, the idea that these drinks might contribute to the development of OCC is still new, he stressed. More research is needed.
And as with anything else, “moderation matters,” Auerbach said. “This study isn’t saying that drinking the occasional soda or juice will give you oral cancer.”
Still, people should be in the know about the fact that these drinks have been linked to cancer and other chronic diseases, so that they can make informed dietary choices, Barber added.
If sodas, sports drinks, sweetened teas, and other sugar-sweetened beverages are a part of your diet right now, it may be helpful to reduce your intake. Try swapping some sugary drinks for water, and “focus on what you put into your body,” Auerbach advised.
Seeing a dental professional regularly is also important, particularly if you’re concerned about your oral cancer risk.
“Oral cancer is most treatable when caught early, so paying attention to any changes in your mouth—sores that don’t heal, persistent pain, or unexplained lumps—is crucial,” said Auerbach.
Julia Landwehr
Julia is the associate news editor for Health, where she edits and publishes news articles on trending health and wellness topics. Her work has been featured in The Heights, an independent student newspaper at Boston College, and Minnesota Monthly.
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This story originally appeared on: Health News - Author:Brian Mastroianni
