Swedish Study Links Dental Plaque To Premature Death From Cancer

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A Swedish research study has linked dental plaque to an increased risk of premature death in cancer patients.

The study, published in BMJ Open, was conducted by Birgitta Soder PhD and her colleagues at Karolinska Institute, Huddinge, Sweden. The study was conducted in collaboration with researchers from the University of Helsinki.

Researchers found that a large quantity of plaque was connected to increased cancer mortality; the team believes that dental plaque reflects poor oral hygiene, which increases the risk of infections, which could lead to systemic illnesses, resulting in death in patients who are already very ill.

The study found that the risk of death by cancer could be increased by dental plaque by up to 79 per cent once other risk factors had been taken into account. The team believes that bacteria in the mouth could contribute to carcinogenesis.

The authors of the study believe that the findings are significant; however, they stressed that the study does not indicate that decay cause cancer.

The study is that latest in a long line, which suggests a link between oral health and general health. Poor oral health has already been linked to an increased risk of heart disease, strokes, diabetes, certain forms of cancer and Alzheimer’s disease.

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