A new study, published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, suggests that gum disease can significantly raise the risk of head and neck cancer. Researchers found that people diagnosed with these forms of cancer were much more likely to have chronic gum disease (periodontitis) than people without cancer. Gum disease leads to bone loss and the loss of tissue surrounding the teeth. Each millimeter of bone loss due to gum disease was associated with a more than four times greater risk of head and neck cancer. This study also confirms that chronic inflammation and infection increases the risk of cancer. Continue reading “Another Important Reason to Brush and Floss!”
Read MoreAnother Important Reason to Brush and Floss!
December 4th, 2009 by Margo Gladding