Of the many risk factors for head and neck cancer, the two most prevalent are alcohol and tobacco use. These habits increase your chances of developing cancers of the oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, and larynx. In fact, about 75 percent of head and neck cancers are caused by alcohol and tobacco use (including smokeless tobacco and e-cigarettes).

Other risk factors are:

• Human papillomavirus (HPV) infections ­– Infections of the cancer-causing HPV type 16 is a risk factor for oropharyngeal cancers, which impact the tonsils or the base of the tongue.
• Eating preserved or salted foods – Consumption of certain types of preserved or salty foods, especially during childhood, is a risk factor for nasopharyngeal cancer (a rare type of head and neck cancer that starts in the upper part of the throat, behind the nose).
• Ancestry – People with Asian ancestry, particularly Chinese ancestry, have an elevated risk for developing nasopharyngeal cancer.
• Epstein-Barr virus infection – This virus is a risk factor for nasopharyngeal cancer and cancer of the salivary glands.
• Poor oral hygiene – Tooth decay and missing teeth may be minor risk factors for cancers of the oral cavity.
• Occupational exposure – Exposure to wood dust is a risk factor for nasopharyngeal cancer, while exposures to asbestos and synthetic fibers have been linked to cancer of the larynx. Industrial exposure to wood or nickel dust or formaldehyde is a risk factor for cancers of the paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity.