The Connection Between Women’s Oral Health and Cancer: An Urgent Global Call for Action Josefine Ortiz Wolfe, PhD, MPH, RDH, CHES, Denisse González Estrada, DDS, MEd, FCMO, Martha Mutis, DDS, MPH, EdD, FICD, Mercedes Mota Martinez DDS, FICOI, FICD, FPFA, Christina Meiners, DDS, FICD, Magda de la Torre, RDH, MPH Good oral health is important from the moment we take our first breath to our first meal and throughout our lives. Good oral health helps us express joy, develop speech, and enhance social interactions, and it also contributes to our overall well-being and survival as women. The human mouth, our gateway to nourishment, communication, and expression, is also a thriving ecosystem inhabited by a myriad of microorganisms collectively referred to as the oral microbiota. These microorganisms — bacteria, archaea, fungi, protists, and viruses — are not merely passive residents. Instead, they actively interact with our bodies, influencing numerous aspects of our health, ranging from digestion and metabolism to immunity and mental well-being (Brennan & Garrett, 2019).
Despite evidence establishing a profound link between oral health and the pathogenesis of systemic diseases, there is a surprising lack of research regarding its impact on women's health. Studies have explored the connection between oral health and various medical conditions like heart disease and diabetes (CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, 2023a). However, the specific implications for women remain largely unexplored. This knowledge gap is concerning, as women experience unique health issues throughout their lives, such as changes in hormones during pregnancy and menopause, which could affect their oral health (CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, 2023b). Good oral health surpasses the bounds of the mouth — it is a silent but potent ally in our collective fight against cancer, safeguarding women's health worldwide. The oral microbiota plays a crucial role in overall health, maintaining a delicate balance that can easily be disrupted. Factors such as poor oral hygiene, unhealthy dietary habits, and neglect of preventive care can tip this balance. For example, when our modern diet, rich in fats, leads to dysbiosis, it results in endotoxemia or "leaky gut", increasing intestinal permeability. This condition induces inflammation and paves the way for the onset of cancer and other health issues. In this disrupted state, opportunistic microorganisms like Fusobacterium nucleatum flourish. Found in the oral cavity, F. nucleatum specifically targets inflamed tissues, emphasizing its cancer-promoting properties (Cuellar-Gómez et al., 2022).
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