{"id":167,"date":"2019-03-11T18:57:25","date_gmt":"2019-03-11T18:57:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.amherstdental.com\/blog\/?p=167"},"modified":"2019-04-30T14:55:28","modified_gmt":"2019-04-30T14:55:28","slug":"dentist-in-williamsville-discusses-gum-disease-cancer-risks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.amherstdental.com\/blog\/2019\/03\/11\/dentist-in-williamsville-discusses-gum-disease-cancer-risks\/","title":{"rendered":"Dentist in Williamsville Discusses Gum Disease & Cancer Risks"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Needless to say, cancer is a terrible disease. According to\nthe American Cancer Society, it is the 2nd<\/sup> most common cause of\ndeath in the country, claiming about 600,000 lives each year. So, of course,\npeople are always looking for a way to reduce their cancer risk in\nWilliamsville. One method that many people do not think of is taking better\ncare of their teeth. New research from the National Cancer Institute has\nrevealed a definitive link between gum disease and certain types of cancers, which\nbegs the questions, \u201cHow are these two seemingly unrelated conditions connected,\u201d\nand, \u201cHow can you use this information to safeguard your health?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

The Link Between Gum Disease & Cancer <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

From the late 1990s all the way until 2012, a massive study\ncalled the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) was conducted. It gathered\nall types of information on the 7,466 participants\u2019 health, and recently, the\nNational Cancer Institute looked at some of the data from comprehensive dental\nexams and discovered a correlation between periodontitis and cancer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Periodontitis is an advanced form of gum disease, which is a\nbacterial infection that affects the gums, roots of the teeth, and the\nunderlying jawbone. It has many causes, but the primary one is a buildup of\nbacterial plaque in the mouth due to a lack of oral hygiene.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the data, people with periodontitis had a 24%\nincrease in their risk of developing cancer versus those with mild or no\nperiodontitis. Specifically, patients with this infection were much more likely\nto develop lung cancer and colorectal cancer respectively. The connection to\nlung cancer was especially illuminating, as it was found to affect patients\nregardless of whether or not they were smokers at any point in their life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why is This the Case?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Right now, science does not know the specific reason why\npeople who have gum disease tend to suffer from higher rates of other serious\nhealth problems, including heart disease in addition to cancer. The prevailing\ntheory is that the bacteria that causes gum disease is able to enter the\nbloodstream and cause inflammation throughout the body, which is the precursor\nto both of these conditions. In another study, the primary bacteria found in\ngum disease was actually shown to be present in the brains of people with\nAlzheimer\u2019s Disease, supporting this theory.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Protect Yourself From Gum Disease<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

So, how can you prevent gum disease in Williamsville to dramatically\nlower your cancer risk? Fortunately, you probably already know the basics:<\/p>\n\n\n\n