Here’s a scary statistic. The fastest growing segment of the oral and oropharyngeal cancer population is HEALTHY NON-SMOKERS in the 25-50 age range (38). This is completely contrary to the long-time belief that the only people at risk for oral cancer are smokers and tobacco users. We now know that the leading cause of oropharyngeal (back of the tongue, throat, and pharynx) cancers is Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) (37). Over 200 strains of HPV exist, 9 cause cancer (another 6 might also cause cancer), and HPV strain 16 (the same strain that causes cervical, anal, and penile cancers) is the main cause for oropharyngeal cancer (38).