B rushing Up:

Imagine a fistful of snow in the palm of your hand. Not too threatening, right?

Now, roll that snow down a steep hill, and – as it gains mass and speed – watch it grow into a power to be reckoned with.

That’s exactly the “snowball” effect poor oral health can have on overall health. By increasing the amount of inflammation in the body, periodontal disease taxes the body’s immune system, increasing a person’s risk of diabetes, preterm labor and even cancer.

In particular, researchers are focusing more attention on the link between untreated gum and tooth disease and breast cancer1. A 2020 study found that periodontal disease may actually promote2 metastatic breast cancer. So, what can women do to stop that snowball from bowling them over?

Deepika Dhama, D.D.S., a dentist based in Norco, Calif., says that along with eating well, exercising and being seen regularly by a doctor, women can improve their overall health by partnering with their dentist and maintaining their oral hygiene.

“The Mouth-Body Connection® comes down to the profound way that oral health affects whole body health, and vice-versa,” Dr. Dhama said. “Just consider, for example, the ways in which hormonal shifts during menopause increase a woman’s risks for gingivitis. Gingivitis, in turn, increases her risk of breast cancer. It’s cyclical.”

Dr. Dhama addressed a few questions about that cyclical relationship, explaining,

Q. What effect does untreated periodontal disease have on overall health as well as on cancer risk?

A. Untreated periodontal disease causes the body's immune system to be under constant attack, hampering the basic functioning of the body. Instead of doing the job of healing, immune cells are constantly responding to stimuli. This impacts the body’s basic physiology, which is one reason chronic inflammation3 is a major risk factor for cancer.

This link between periodontal disease and chronic inflammation also has an impact on the way the body processes glucose, which affects diabetes. Poor oral health even affects atherosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and pneumonia, as well as the cardiovascular system.”

Q. Can curbing oral inflammation help reduce a person's risk of breast cancer?

A. Inflammation is the body’s way of trying to fight a source of irritation. If that stimulus is removed, then the body will no longer need to fight and can return to a healthy state. That said, we don’t know for sure that treating periodontal disease can reduce cancer risk because we are only now beginning to understand how much the mouth microbiome affects chronic diseases.

For example, we know that treating gum disease reduces periodontal pathogens, or disease-causing bacteria, in the body as a whole. Some of these pathogens4, including gingivalis (which causes the gum disease gingivitis), are also associated with breast and other cancers. Results of future studies could help us better understand how keeping your teeth and gum healthy could help control or prevent cancer.

Q. What do patients need to know about the effect of cancer treatment on oral health?

A. Battling cancer involves chemotherapy, radiation and other treatments that can affect all aspects of a person’s health, including their oral health. Issues5 such as mucositis, or inflamed mouth; saliva changes, taste alterations, infection and bleeding gums are commonly associated with chemotherapy treatments. These can cause pain and/or impair nutrition. In addition, some cancer treatments lead to “dry mouth,” which increases a person’s risk of developing cavities and periodontal disease.

So, once your doctor clears you for routine dental exams, make regular dental visits a priority. Treating your mouth well is just as important in preventing cancer as it is in treating and surviving it.