Possible Connection Between Gum Disease And Cancer: Study
Posted May 30, 2008 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
“It doesn’t hurt at all really just going to the dentist,” claims Grace, a young student.
“They showed me pictures of what my teeth will look like if I don’t brush properly and I don’t like it, so I try to brush a lot,” the youngster laughs.
An older patient wished he had learned that lesson years ago.
“Used to be my gums were in a little rough shape because I didn’t take care of them properly,” admits Stephen McGuire. He finally went to see a dentist about the growing problem.
“Since then they’ve taught me how to really take care of my teeth and they’re a lot healthier now. My gums are a lot healthier,” he smiles.
And that’s a great indication of his overall health. A new study suggests that, if you take care of your gums, you can reduce your risk of cancer. Researchers followed almost 50,000 men for more than 17 years and found that those who had gum disease had a 14 per cent higher risk of cancer, even after taking into account other risk factors for cancer like smoking and diet.
However, the research, published in The Lancet, cautions that it’s not cause and effect, meaning gum disease doesn’t necessarily cause cancer.
It may just be that people who are prone to one condition may also be likely to develop the other.
“We know that people who are prone to gum disease are also prone to cancer,” explains Dr Kenneth Montague.
“We can say that. But we can’t really say with clarity, is it a causative factor?”
Still, the dentist points out that there are other, proven, benefits.
“We know there’s a correlation between gum disease and heart disease. We know there’s a correlation between gum disease and diabetes.”
He also said you may not notice symptoms until it’s too late.
“It’s a disease that’s insidious. That is, you don’t often see it until damage is done. It’s a slow process over one’s lifetime,” Dr Montague outlined.
“In the early phase, which we call gingivitis, there can be red and swollen gums. There can be bleeding upon brushing. After that, over time it progresses to involve the bone, and that’s called periodontitis.”
And that can lead to you losing your teeth.
Here’s how to reduce your risk of gum disease: Complete guide on caring for your teeth and gums.
You can read a summary of the study here.
