The study, published in the International Journal of Cancer, used data on supplement use and diet for 42,340 men in the Health Professional Follow-Up Study. During the course of the study, 207 oral pre-malignant lesions were documented.

Vitamin C from dietary sources was significantly associated with a reduced risk of mouth cancer, but no association with the vitamin from supplements was found.

Vitamin C is needed to form collagen, a tissue that helps to hold cells together. It’s essential for healthy bones, teeth, gums, and blood vessels. It helps the body absorb iron and calcium, aids in wound healing and contributes to brain function.

You can find high levels of vitamin C in red berries, kiwi, red and green bell peppers, tomatoes, broccoli, spinach, and juices made from guava, grapefruit and orange.

Dr. Ian Monroe, a professor in the Department of Nutritional Sciences and Faculty of Medicine and Associate Director, Program in Food Safety, Nutrition and Regulatory Affairs at the university, came to this conclusion after conducting an extensive review of the numerous unpublished clinical studies involving over 4,000 human subjects.

The study entitled ‘Use of Hydrogen Peroxide-Based Tooth Whitening Products and its Relationship to Oral Cancer, has been published in the Journal of Esthetic and Restorative Dentistry.

Dr. Monroe says that clinical and laboratory data on tooth whitening products do not show any evidence for the development of oral cancer, or of any other effect linked to oral cancer.

The researcher says that concentrations of hydrogen peroxide used as an ingredient in tooth whitening products rapidly declines to near undetectable levels usually within 15-60 minutes, which is too short a duration to cause any oral tissue changes enhancing the oral cancer risk.

The review also examined the possibility of increased oral cancer development due to combined exposure to hydrogen peroxide and carcinogenic agents present in cigarette smoke.

Dr. Monroe says that the possible combined-effect was found to be groundless during study, which further illustrates the relative safety of tooth whitening products.

Oral cancer typically stems from pre-cancerous lesions, changes, or patches in the mouth — all of which are early signs of cancer. Recognizing which pre-cancerous changes are more likely to develop into aggressive tumors would allow doctors an insight that could help them prescribe the best treatment.

Smoking, use of chewing tobacco, and heavy alcohol consumption are the leading causes of mouth cancer. And smoking and drinking are a very dangerous combination. Like lung cancer, mouth cancer usually develops in people age 50 or older.

On Wednesday, National Taiwan University Hospital introduced a new high-tech laser procedure — potassium-titanyl-phosphate or KPT — to vaporize cancer cells. Doctors use a small endoscopic camera and easily manipulate the laser to precisely eliminate the cancer cells in the back of the nose and the soft roof of the mouth — without harming healthy cells. The procedure takes roughly 90 minutes and requires a two-day stay in the hospital. This procedure should only be used in the early stages of relapse, though, and first-time cancer patients should still seek chemotherapy. And while those in later stages of relapse can still receive the treatment, it will only relieve discomfort without solving the problem.

To date, there have been 16 successful KPT treatments for this disease that about 1,000 people in Taiwan contract each year.