Constant gum inflammation and an increase in oral bacteria could be linked to the development of different types of cancer.
The medical journal Gut of the British Society of Gastroenterology has published the study “Periodontal disease, tooth loss and risk of oesophageal and gastric adenocarcinoma: a prospective study” signed by the researcher Mingyang Song, epidemiologist and gastroenterologist at Harvard Medical School, whose main conclusions seem to indicate that there is a link between stomach or oesophageal cancer and periodontal diseases.
In a first study conducted in July 2020, Song’s team worked on finding evidence to confirm the link between periodontal disease and tooth loss and stomach and oesophageal cancer. Even then, the team realised that they needed to focus the study on the behaviour of the microbiota of the oral cavity and how it might link the two diseases.
Data from this first study showed that people who had suffered from dental disease were 52% more likely to develop stomach cancer and 43% more likely to develop oesophageal cancer.
In addition, the study also concluded that people affected by tooth loss increased their risk of stomach cancer by 33% and oesophageal cancer by 42%.
Tras este primer estudio, el equipo de Song se centró en estudiar el comportamiento de la microbiota y su relación con la salud bucal y el cáncer gastrointestinal.
It has been proven that the high systemic inflammation caused by periodontal disease can favour the development of cancer. In addition, an increase in bacteria in the mouth and gums can also contribute to the development of this disease.
Song also published a study that already linked colon cancer to oral pathologies. In this case, the data showed that people with gum disease had a 17% increased risk of serrated polyps and an 11% increased risk of conventional adenomas. Similarly, the loss of 4 or more teeth increased the risk of developing these polyps by 20%.
Although the data from studies can not establish a direct link between periodontal diseases and gastrointestinal cancer, there is evidence that suggests further research into the influence of the oral microbiota and its role in gum health and the occurrence of these types of diseases.
