Final answer:
Smoking is the greatest single risk factor for oral and pharyngeal cancer, contributing to about 25 percent of cancer deaths. While alcohol consumption is also a risk factor, the effects of smoking are more directly correlated with the incidence of these cancers. Healthy lifestyle changes like not using tobacco can greatly reduce one's cancer risk.
Step-by-step explanation:
The greatest single risk factor for oral and pharyngeal cancer is smoking. This lifestyle choice is linked to a significant number of cancer deaths, attributing to an estimated 25 percent. Alcohol consumption is also a known risk factor for various types of cancers including oral cancer, but smoking has a more direct correlation with the development of oral and pharyngeal cancers. In addition to the cancers of the mouth and throat, smoking is associated with other oral issues such as periodontitis (gum disease), which adds to the risk profile.
Poor oral hygiene can contribute to oral health problems, but its direct link to cancer is less significant when compared with smoking. While genetic predisposition can influence cancer risk to some degree, the impact of smoking as an environmental factor is more pronounced in the incidence of oral cancers.
It is important for individuals to understand that making healthy lifestyle choices, such as avoiding tobacco and limiting alcohol intake, can significantly reduce the risk of developing cancer.