Your Teeth and Cancer

We’ve repeatedly advised readers of the cardiovascular risks associated with periodontitis, or gingivitis – chronic inflammation of the teeth and gums. As if that wasn’t cause enough for worry, a new report has issued, just published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Analyzing data from the Health Professionals Study, the authors found that, almost 52,000 male health professionals, there were 216 cases of pancreatic cancer during the 16 years of follow-up. A history of periodontal disease was associated with a 64% increase in the pancreas cancer risk, compared with those with no history of periodontitis.

In a previous study a similar risk increase was found, but all the participants were smokers; in a second study an increased risk was found, but no adjustment was made for smoking, which is a known pancreas cancer risk factor. In the new study, reported here, adjustments were made for smoking status; in those with pancreatic cancer who had never smoked, the increased risk associated with gum disease was twice that in those with no periodontitis.

The authors speculate that the link between periodontitis and pancreatic cancer may be due to increased blood levels of cancer-producing compounds – such as nitrosamines - generated by bacteria on the oral cavity.

This finding provides another reason to check whether you may have gum disease, and visit your dentist/hygienist regularly. And don’t forget to brush and floss, and maybe swill with Listerine®.