Recent research suggests that Gen X and millennial Americans are at higher risk of developing some types of cancer than older generations, but could the key to prevention lie in our morning routines?
An encouraging new study suggests that performing the bare minimum of daily oral care, such as regular brushing and flossing, can drastically reduce the risk of developing head and neck cancer.
HNCs, which include cancers of the oral and nasal cavities, pharynx, larynx, salivary glands, and thyroid, account for nearly 3% of cancer diagnoses and more than 1.5% of cancer deaths in the US.
Research has previously shown that bacteria associated with gum disease increase the risk of diabetes and heart disease. Gum disease, also called periodontitis, develops when plaque – a sticky substance containing bacteria – builds up on the teeth.
Dr. Todd Ross, a dentist and assistant clinical professor at NYU College of Dentistry, previously told The Post, “The mouth gives you a wealth of information about a person’s health.”
However, until recently, experts weren’t sure which specific oral bacteria might be linked to HNC.
Researchers have now identified more than a dozen types of bacteria that they believe may increase the risk of the most common HNC, squamous cell carcinoma, by a staggering 50%.
Lead study author Soyoung Kwak, a postdoctoral fellow in population health at NYU, added, “Our findings provide new insight into the link between the oral microbiome and head and neck cancer.”
Kwak and his team analyzed the diet, lifestyle and medical history of about 160,000 Americans.
Saliva samples provided by participants were tested for microbes and stored. Over a 15-year period, 236 of those participants were diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. The researchers compared the oral microbes of those who were diagnosed with the 458 participants who remained cancer-free. The team found that 13 types of the hundreds of bacteria routinely found in the mouth increase the risk of cancer.
This group was associated with a 30% greater probability of developing squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. When combined with five other species often seen in gum disease, the overall risk increased by 50%.
The researchers note that their findings establish a correlation rather than a direct link between the bacteria and cancer.
The researchers say: “Now that we have identified the main bacteria that may contribute to this disease, we plan to explore the mechanisms that allow them to do so and in what ways we can best intervene.”
In terms of intervention, preventive washing and flossing are the best defenses against this troublesome bacteria.
Professor Richard Hayes, a co-author and expert in population health at New York University (NYU) said: “Our results provide yet another reason to maintain good oral hygiene habits. Brushing and flossing are not not only can it help prevent periodontal disease, but it can also protect against head and neck cancer.
The American Cancer Society recently stated that 40% of cancer cases and nearly half of cancer deaths in American adults age 30 and older can be prevented with a lifestyle change.
Typically diagnosed in older adults, oral cancers are among those on the rise in younger generations.
Experts believe that human papillomavirus (HPV), spread sexually and through skin-to-skin contact, may be behind the increase. Among these causative cancers is oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OP-SCC) an oral cancer that affects the oropharynx (an area of the throat) and tonsils.
Researchers believe that HPV that affects this area is usually spread through oral sex practices, but can also be acquired through kissing and sharing food. Among all HPV variations, type 16 has been labeled the highest risk, contributing to an average of 90% of OP-SCC cancer cases, affecting both men and women.
News of the correlation between the oral biome and cancer risk comes on the heels of recent research suggesting that marijuana users are 3.5 to 5 times more likely to develop HNC than those who switch to pot.
The ban on vice continues, with studies suggesting that alcohol consumption may also increase the risk of cancer.
Meanwhile, proper oral hygiene has also been associated with a reduced risk of dementia.
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