Introduction - Our objective was to describe the current epidemiology of oral cavity cancers in France. Materials and Methods - National incidence data for oral cavity cancers were calculated using estimates from the French cancer registry network (Francim network), the Biostatistics Department of the Hospices Civils de Lyon, the French Institute for Public Health Surveillance (InVS), and the National Cancer Institute (Inca). The distribution of cancers by site, histology, and department, as well as age averages and age-specific incidence rates, were calculated based on data from the registries. Survival data were extracted from studies by the Francim network. Results - Approximately 7,000 oral cavity cancers were diagnosed in France in 2005. In 2007, 1,746 people died from oral cavity cancer. In 2005, age-standardized incidence rates were 12.3 and 3.0 cases per 100,000 person-years for men and women, respectively. The age-standardized incidence of these cancers has declined sharply among men, by 43.2% between 1980 and 2005. Among women, the trend is the opposite, with a 51.7% increase in incidence over the same period. Conclusion - In France, the incidence of oral cavity cancers is declining sharply among men and rising sharply among women. This trend should be viewed in conjunction with the prevalence of the main risk factors, alcohol and tobacco. (R.A.)