Does Frequent Teeth Picking Cause Cancer? Doctor Sets Record Straight
A 31-year-old man developed a facial tumor coinciding with frequent toothpick use, prompting discussion about cancer risk. Dr. Chattrapol clarified that teeth picking itself doesn't cause cancer, which is mainly linked to smoking, alcohol,
A 31-year-old man suffered severe facial swelling on one side due to tooth decay and frequent use of toothpicks, which caused inflammation and developed into a large malignant tumor on the left side of his face. The incident sparked widespread discussion about whether teeth picking causes serious disease.
Dr. Chattrapol posted an educational video with the question: "Does picking teeth frequently cause cancer?!" While discussing the case, he revealed: "Doctors suspect it may be oral mucosal cancer that has spread to the tooth root area. As a cosmetic surgeon, I have encountered cases like this fairly often, but we still don't know the tissue biopsy results for this case. We don't yet know what type of cancer it is, whether it originated from the tooth or not, or from inside the mouth or elsewhere."
Dr. Chattrapol directly answered whether frequent teeth picking causes cancer: "What is certain is that I don't believe teeth picking itself is a direct cause of cancer. Oral cancer is mainly caused by alcohol, smoking, HPV virus, and poor dental and oral hygiene. These are clear causes that can lead to mucosal cancer in the mouth and spread elsewhere."
"However, there is no solid scientific evidence proving that teeth picking causes these cancers. It's likely just coincidence—one event happening at the same time as another. That's why we assume it's the cause. For example, this man's oral cancer may have been growing during the period when he happened to be picking his teeth frequently, so he thought teeth picking was the cause. We call this coincidence."
"Saying that teeth picking causes cancer creates panic and spreads incorrect information. I want to explain that the chances of oral cancer developing from teeth picking are extremely low. And if the cancer originated from the tooth itself, there is no evidence whatsoever that teeth picking causes this type of cancer."
Sending Support to the Young Patient, Urging Swift Treatment
"I would say this man's case is just coincidence. However, the tumor he has is quite large. I want to extend my support and urge him to seek treatment as soon as possible, because it is spreading fairly rapidly."
