What is the Link Between Plaque and Cancer?

Cancer is undoubtedly one of the most dreaded diseases. And while some forms can be managed using natural approaches or chemotherapy, a large number of patients with cancer often succumb to 

the disease. But can better oral hygiene really reduce your risk for cancer?

Dozens of studies over the decades have consistently found that dental plaque does not cause cancer, but it harbors and encourages agents that do. This means that self-care, which includes daily brushing and flossing, can help to prevent more than just dental caries and gum disease. Combining these with good diet, proper lifestyle changes, and regular dental visits and teeth cleanings can be a great way to prevent cancer-causing bacteria from forming and incubating in your mouth.

Link Between Plaque and Cancer - Scientific Studies

Many studies have found that poor oral health translates to poor general health. While the tooth exterior may seem like a sturdy shell that is impenetrable, allowing a large amount of plaque to settle on your teeth can calcify and harden to form tartar. This tartar can develop into a more serious problem called gum disease, which may lead to tooth loss or systemic health problems by allowing bacteria to get into your blood stream.

In one particular study, researchers tracked the health of nearly 1,400 randomly selected healthy adults between the age of 30 and 50 years from Stockholm, Sweden for 24 years (1985 to 2009). They were interviewed about things in their lifestyle that may increase cancer risk, like smoking and wealth, and their oral hygiene assessed, in terms of plaque, tartar, tooth loss, and gum disease. While none of them has overt periodontal disease, the participants had considerable levels of plaque on the tooth surface.

At the end of the research, 58 of the participants had died of cancer – 35.6 percent of whom were women. The average age of mortality was 60 years for the men and 61 for the women, yet they would be expected to live an additional 8.5 years and 13 years longer, respectively.

Deaths among women were largely due to breast cancer, but men were attacked by different types of cancer, including pancreatic and oral cancers. According to the study, the dental plaque index for the deceased was higher than for survivors, implying that the gum area of their teeth had considerable amounts of plaque. The index was much lower for the survivors, suggesting that only a small area of their gum was covered with plaque.

The Conclusion

The researchers concluded that dental plaque was a major cause of premature death attributed to cancer, even with consideration of other likely risk factors like smoking, lower educational attainment, lower income, and lower frequency of dental visits. So, it is important that you start taking your oral health seriously to elude life-threatening health concerns in future.