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Doctors have highlighted hidden risks linked to the development of oral cancer, including a widespread global habit — drinking tea.
According to health experts, consuming hot tea may significantly increase the risk of cancer, Rzeczpospolita reported during the European Head and Neck Cancer Prevention Week. Research indicates that the temperature of beverages can directly influence the onset of dangerous cancers.
Oral and throat cancers account for about 2.5% of all cancer cases, most commonly affecting men and being strongly linked to smoking, alcohol consumption, and the human papillomavirus (HPV). However, doctors stress that another often overlooked factor is the temperature of drinks.
“A study conducted in Iran showed that drinking around 700 ml of tea daily at temperatures above 60°C increases the risk of esophageal cancer by 90%. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies beverages hotter than 65°C as probably carcinogenic,” explained Dr. Agnieszka Juszkiewicz of Medicover Stomatologia.
She added that not only tea, but any hot liquid — from soup to water — can pose risks.
Doctors also warned that oral cancer cases have been rising in recent years, driven by delays in diagnoses after the pandemic, growing smoking rates, and the increasing popularity of e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches. Studies further suggest that even nicotine-free vapor from vapes can damage oral cell DNA and trigger mechanisms linked to cancer development.
