Smoking and drinking have found to be key players in the risk of developing mouth cancers.
The vices were found to be a trigger for the cancers of the mouth, oesophagus and larynx, collectively known as cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract, in under-50s.
Indeed, 88 per cent of this group of cancers within the age group were caused by smoking tobacco, consuming alcohol and having a diet with insufficient levels of fruit and vegetables.
Gary Macfarlane, professor of epidemiology at the university, commented: "Cancers of the upper aero-digestive tract are on the increase throughout the world and to date the increases have been greatest in young adults under the age of 50."
He added: "Our findings confirmed that smoking tobacco, heavy alcohol consumption and a lack of fruit and vegetable in a person's diet remained the most important causes of cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract."
