Oral hygiene "protects" from cancer

The risk of occurrence cancer to esophagus and stomach decreased significantly with good oral hygiene, according to Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health researchers.
The regular tooth brushing could reduce the risk of mouth or stomach cancer, according to a new scientific study. Scientists from the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health studied data from thousands of people over twenty years to uncover the link. They specifically found that people with a history of gum disease were 52% more likely to develop esophageal or stomach cancer later in life. The risk, according to the researchers, was even higher for people who had previously lost teeth.

What causes gum disease?
According to the National Health Service (NHS), the main cause of gum disease is poor oral hygiene, which can include irregular or even regular but incorrect brushing. Researchers looked at esophageal and stomach cancer rates in 98,459 women and 49,685 men over at least two decades. According to the findings during 22 to 28 years of follow-up, there were 199 cases of esophageal cancer and 238 cases of stomach cancer. History of gum disease was associated with 43% increased risk of esophageal cancer and 52% with increased risk of stomach cancer.

Why is the risk increasing?
For people who had lost two or more teeth the risk of cancer of the esophagus and stomach was also higher. The link between bacteria commonly found in the mouth and esophageal cancer was known from previous studies. At the same time, poor oral hygiene and gum disease may contribute to the formation of bacteria known to cause stomach cancer, according to the researchers. "The aforementioned data prove why good oral hygiene is important to prevent and reduce the chances of developing stomach or esophageal cancer," the researchers conclude.