Cancer Information
More articles below:
New Colorectal Cancer Drug Shows Promise in Study
Four Unhealthy Behaviors Linked to Premature Death
Moving Closer to a Urine Test for Colon Cancer
Few Over 50 Get Skin Cancer Screenings
New Form of Painkiller May Fight Colon Cancer
Heavy Alcohol Use Linked to Cancer
Gum Disease May Increase Head and Neck Cancer Risk
TUESDAY, Sept. 8 (HealthDay News) -- Taking good care of your teeth may help cut your risk of developing head or neck cancer, suggests a new study that links a gum disease to such tumors.
Having chronic periodontitis, a gum disease involving the progressive loss of the bone and soft tissue attached to the teeth, appeared to increase one's odds of developing head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, especially in the mouth and throat.
The findings was published online Sept. 8 in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.
"Prevent periodontitis; if you have it already, get treatment and maintain good oral hygiene," research leader Dr. Mine Tezal, from the Buffalo, N.Y.-based Roswell Park Cancer Institute, said in a news release issued by the journal's publisher.
The cancer risk appeared to be roughly as high for chronic periodontitis patients, regardless of whether they smoked or used any tobacco products, but further study may be needed to confirm this, Tezal said.
More information
The U.S. National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research has more about gum disease.
DON'T HAVE Rx COVERAGE?Click Here to print out your FREE OPTIMIZERx Card and instantly begin savings on your next prescriptions!
