You lean back in your chair, crack your knuckles, and let out a sigh of relief—you’ve just finished filing your taxes and you’re getting a very sizable refund! Now you’re beginning to wonder what you should spend that money on; a trip to Cancun has been on your mind for a while, but that credit card debt isn’t going to just magically disappear. Something you might not even be considering though, is investing that money in your oral health. Here’s why spending your tax refund money on a trip to your dentist is a very wise choice.

Cancer is serious, and oral cancer is no exception; the American Cancer Society estimates that this year, 51,000 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with it. This is a staggering figure, and though there are treatment options and preventive measures that you can take, you might be starting to wonder if you’re at risk for developing it. Here are some of the common factors associated with oral cancer along with ways you can minimize your risk of developing it.