Gum Disease and Breast Cancer
You may be aware of how important it is to practice good oral hygiene by taking care of your teeth and gums; what you may not know is that there may be connection between gum disease and breast cancer. The highest risk comes to women who are postmenopausal and who are smokers. This risk also applies to people who had stopped smoking within the last 20 years. There are a few different reasons why this link exists. You should be aware of the signs of gum disease and make regular yearly appointments with your doctor (or more frequently if you suspect that you may have oral health issues.)
The Relationship Between Gum Disease and Breast Cancer
Researchers wanted to find out if there was a link between oral health and breast cancer because previous studies had shown them that periodontal disease is linked to heart disease, stroke, diabetes, lung cancers, head and neck cancer, pancreatic cancer, oral, and esophageal cancers. This research was called the Woman’s Health Initiative Observational Study, and it monitored 73,737 women who did not have any breast cancer diagnosis. They also noted smokers and women who had stopped smoking within the last 20 years. 26.1 percent of the women had periodontal disease. 2,124 of these women were diagnosed with breast cancer after a (mean) follow up time of 6.7 years. The researchers calculated that the breast cancer risk for women with periodontal disease is 14 percent higher than those without oral health issues.
Smokers had a 32 percent higher risk of breast cancer if they had periodontal disease, and those who had stopped smoking within the last 20 years had a 36 percent chance of developing breast cancer if they also had periodontal disease. Researchers stated that oral bacteria was different in the mouths of smokers and former smokers than non-smokers.
A few different reasons were stated in the study to explain why women with periodontal disease may be at greater risk to develop breast cancer. One reason may be that inflammation in the gums may have an impact on other diseases in the body. Tooth brushing, flossing, and chewing can cause bacteria to get into the bloodstream. Your body quickly clears out these bacteria, but the cumulative exposure of bacteria to your body’s tissues can add up. It is possible that exposure to these bacteria can influence the development of breast cancer. Other factors scientists found in the study may also have an affect on the development of cancer in breast tissue, but researchers said they need more information and further study.
You may be wondering what you can do to stay ahead of developing oral health issues. There are a few simple signs of gum disease that you can watch for which should warn you that it is time to make a dentist appointment. These signs include: tender or bleeding gums, loose teeth, red or swollen gums, sensitive teeth, gums that are pulling away from your teeth, bad breath, or a bad taste in your mouth that will not go away. You can lower your risk of developing breast cancer by eating healthy food, avoiding smoking (quit smoking, or avoiding second hand smokers,) and avoiding alcohol consumption.
Educating yourself about the links between oral health and the development of breast cancer is one way to stay healthy and potentially avoid a devastating diagnosis. Taking positive steps to practice healthy lifestyle choices and stop unhealthy choices will improve your health and increase the chance of a long and cancer free life. Taking care of your teeth also translates into taking care of your whole body. Good oral hygiene will limit the exposure of your body to harmful bacteria.
Five Solid Facts about Breast Cancer and Gum Disease
1. Periodontal disease is common and can be linked to serious health issues such as: heart disease, stroke, diabetes and many types of cancer, including breast cancer.
2. If you have periodontal disease, your risk for developing breast cancer is higher if you currently smoke (or have quit smoking within the last 20 years.)
3. Practicing good oral hygiene will decrease the possibility of damage to cells in your mouth from the side effects of chemotherapy when being treated for breast cancer.
4. Untreated or preexisting periodontal disease makes treatment for breast cancer more complicated.
5. Because the risk for postmenopausal women to develop periodontal disease is higher, this group of women should be extra vigilant about oral health and hygiene.
Sources:
http://www.aacr.org/Newsroom/Pages/News-Release-Detail.aspx?ItemID=823#.V_m1sKOZNE4
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3178963/
http://www.breastcancer.org/research-news/gum-disease-may-be-linked-to-higher-risk
