Objective To investigate the effect of tea drinking on the incidence of oral cancer in the non-smoking and non-drinking population. Methods From February 2013 to October 2015, 34 patients with oral malignant tumor (case group) and 66 health examination cases (control group) in our hospital were selected, and the demographic characteristics of the two groups were compared. Results The age, gender, education level, area, residence, and other oral diseases or not, tea drinking, tea drinking time, tea drinking volume and tea drinking type were significantly different among the two groups (P < 0.05). The results of multiple logistic regressions (no correction) showed that tea drinking, tea drinking time, tea drinking volume had a certain relationship with the incidence of oral cancer. Multiple logistic regression (adjusted) results showed that tea drinking or not (■=0.504 ), tea drinking time (■ =0.511 ), tea drinking volume (■=0.249), drinking tea type (■=0.541) were independent protective factors(P < 0.05). Conclusions Tea drinking, tea drinking time, tea drinking volume and tea drinking type are independent protective factors of oral cancer, and they can effectively prevent oral cancer.