You might feel worried or surprised if your dentist lets you know they’re screening the tissues of your mouth for oral cancer during a routine visit. But many providers include an oral cancer screening as a standard part of preventive appointments to catch this risky condition in time to treat it in an effort to improve patients’ prognoses.

If you’re unsure whether you’re at an increased risk of developing this risky oral disease, continue reading to learn more about potential risk factors so you can avoid them and protect your dental health.