Can a teen have mouth cancer?

It is possible.: Alcohol and tobacco use, including smokeless tobacco, is certainly a risk factor. Most patients present at over age 50. There may be few or no symptoms. If a teen uses alcohol and/or tobacco a lot, he/she may get it, but it usually takes long. Some patients with burkitt's lymphoma can have head/neck lesions at pre-teen age.

Unlikely: Cancer of the mouth is related to age and happens more commonly in older people. Mouth problems in teens are more likely benign. If something abnormal is present in the mouth for more than two weeks you should see your doctor for evaluation.

Rarely: Epstein Barr virus infection can cause mouth cancer in a teenager, but the lesion is uncommon in the US. In a susceptible teenager, tobacco may induce mouth cancer in a short time, again, rarely.