January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, starting the year off with a reminder of the importance of cancer prevention. The annual campaign encourages everyone to learn more about the risk factors and symptoms of the disease. Although not directly the remit of dental professionals, it is still important to have a basic understanding of the field in order to support and signpost patients to reliable resources for further information. There are also various indirect associations between cervical cancer and the mouth.
What’s the link between cervical cancer and oral health?
Approximately 99.7% of cervical cancers are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). Across Europe, HPV16 and HPV18 – high-risk strains – account for 58% and 16%, respectively, of all cervical cancer cases.[i]
There are several risk factors for acquiring the HPV infection, including an early age of first sexual intercourse, multiple partners,[ii] and oral sex.[iii] Around 80% of the population will be infected with HPV at some point during their lives, although it is fairly harmless and resolves on its own in most situations. In others, the infection incites changes in the body, which increase the risk of cancerous growths.[iv]
The link to oral health, aside from the potential transmission between people via the mouth, is that HPV is also a major risk factor for oral cancers. It has been linked with an increasing number of oropharyngeal malignancies, especially among the younger population.[v] Current research suggests that tobacco use, alcohol consumption and HPV infection are the big three risk factors for all types of oral cancer.[vi]
Reducing the risks
Consequently, several of the recommendations for reducing the risk of cervical cancer will have a similar effect on oral cancer risk. The most important of these include smoking cessation, a healthy diet, and protected sex.
In the UK, the HPV vaccine is now offered to girls and boys around 12 years old.[vii] The nationwide programme is intended to prevent infection of the virus, while also drawing attention to and educating young people on the risk factors. Specifically designed to reduce the incidence of cervical cancer, HPV screening is also available in England for women aged between 25 and 64.[viii]
In addition, regular oral cancer screening is an important part of our remit as dentists. Even for low-risk patients, it’s important that they are made aware of the risks to help them make informed decisions about their wellbeing. This may only be one aspect of our role, but it an essential one.
EndoCare, led by Dr Michael Sultan, is one of the UK’s most trusted Specialist Endodontist practices. Through the use of the latest technologies and techniques, the highly-trained team can offer exceptional standards of care – always putting the patient first. What’s more, EndoCare is a dependable referral centre, to which dentists from across the country send their patients for the best in specialist endodontic treatment.
[i] Cancer Research UK. Cervical cancer risk. https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/statistics-by-cancer-type/cervical-cancer/risk-factors [Accessed December 2026]
[ii] National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. (NICE). Cervical cancer and HOV. What are the risk factors? April 2025. https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/cervical-cancer-hpv/background-information/risk-factors/ [Accessed December 2026]
[iii] NHS. Human papillomavirus (HPV). https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/human-papilloma-virus-hpv/ [Accessed December 2026]
[iv] Cancer Research UK. Risks and causes of mouth and oropharyngeal cancer. https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/mouth-cancer/risks-causes [Accessed December 2025]
[v] Kokkinis E, Bastas NS, Mega I, Tsironis C, Lianou AD. Association of HPV with Oral and Oropharyngeal Cancer: Current Evidence. Maedica (Bucur). 2024 Dec;19(4):801-806. doi: 10.26574/maedica.2024.19.4.801. PMID: 39974435; PMCID: PMC11834829.
[vi] Irani S. New Insights into Oral Cancer-Risk Factors and Prevention: A Review of Literature. Int J Prev Med. 2020 Dec 30;11:202. doi: 10.4103/ijpvm.IJPVM_403_18. PMID: 33815726; PMCID: PMC8000242.
[vii] UK Health Security Agency. Information on the HPV vaccination from September 2023. Updated September 2025. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hpv-vaccine-vaccination-guide-leaflet/information-on-the-hpv-vaccination-from-september-2023 [Accessed December 2025]
[viii] NHS England. Cervical screening: programme overview. July 2025. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/cervical-screening-programme-overview [Accessed December 2025]
