Dental Plaque Could Pose Cancer Risk
A study published in the BMJ Open has suggested that dental plaque could increase the risk of cancer.
The study, which was published earlier this year, was carried out in Sweden; around 1,400 adults in Stockholm participated in the research, which ran from 1985 until 2009.
Participants aged between 30 and 40 years of age were given thorough dental examinations and asked to fill in a survey about their lifestyle habits; dentists checked their mouths for dental plaque, signs of gum disease and tooth loss.
Researchers found that there were few people with complex gum disease, but those who did have gum disease also had high levels of dental plaque.
At the end of the study, researchers found that 58 people had died and 35 of those deaths were linked to cancer. Around 40 per cent of deaths involved women. The research team noted that from analysing the data most of the people who died had elevated levels of dental plaque, while those that were still alive had normal levels.
According to their research, the team concluded that dental plaque is a risk factor for cancer and suggested further study in this area.
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