Oral cancer is one of the most common neoplasms. Over 90 percent of these tumors are squamous cell carcinomas. Precancerous lesions of oral mucosa are lesions that can potentially transform into malignancy. Oral leukoplakia, lichen planus, submucous fibrosis, and erythroplakia are the most common oral mucosal diseases that have a very high malignant transformation rate. Such oral lesions may be caused by tobacco use, alcohol drinking, exposure to the human papillomavirus and chewing of the betel nut. Cancer is one of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality today. Early diagnosis is very important, and is of critical importance to improve the survival rates of patients. In general, the population has an uneven knowledge level about oral cavity cancers and precancerous lesions, and in spite of the ready accessibility of the oral cavity to direct examination, these malignancies still are often not detected until a late stage, and the survival rate for oral cancer has remained essentially unchanged. However, various studies demonstrate that the education level may influence on patients’ knowledge and behavior regarding to the oral diseases. There is the need of educational programs and/or projects emphasizing symptoms, causes and treatments of these pathologies for early detection and/or prevention of oral cavity cancers and precancerous lesions. The purpose of this article is to review the role of education in early detection and prevention of oral cavity cancers.