Women with Gum Disease and Missing Teeth More Likely to Develop Breast Cancer
The results of a study by the Karolinska Institute in Sweden published in the October 2010 issue of the Breast Cancer Research and Treatment Journal indicate that those who have gum disease and have lost teeth are 11 times more likely compared with others, to develop breast cancer.
The main purpose of the study was to evaluate the association between gum disease and the incidence of breast cancer in a group of over 3000 subjects aged between 30-40 years at the beginning of the study conducted between 1985 and 2001.
Results showed that chronic gum disease as indicated by missing molars seemed to associate statistically with breast cancer. Out of the 41 people who developed breast cancer, those with gum disease and loss of teeth were 11 times more likely to develop cancer.
According to the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP), around 75 percent of adults in the United States are affected by some form of gum disease, ranging from mild cases of gingivitis to its more severe form, periodontitis. To make matters worse, recent research by AAP and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) suggest that gum disease prevalence in the US may have been underestimated by as much as 50 percent. In contrast, the rates for adult populations in most industrialized countries range between an estimated 15 to 35 percent.
Good news is that the inflammation caused by infections is an important preventable cause of human cancers. Gum disease happens as a result of complex interactions between the body’s defense mechanism and bacterial and viral activity. It begins when a biofilm of bacteria on the teeth sets of an immune-inflammatory response in the tissue nearby. Chronic infection and inflammation eventually destroy the bone tissue surrounding the teeth. Gum disease may take decades to develop, and ultimately results in tooth loss.
British Dental Health Foundation also weighs in on the link between gum disease, tooth loss and breast cancer and the importance of gum disease prevention.
Little things such as daily brushing and flossing, regular dental cleaning and adding nuts and fish to your diet go a long way towards prevention.
You can find more about gum disease in Dental & Oral Health Problems>Gum Disease onFreeDentistFinder.com.
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