Recent research suggests that Gen X and millennial Americans are at higher risk of developing several different cancers 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 maintenance, i.e., regularly brushing and flossing your teeth, could drastically reduce your 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 established that bacteria linked to gum disease increases the risk of diabetes and heart disease. Gum disease, also called periodontitis, develops when plaque — a sticky substance containing bacteria — builds up on teeth.
Dr. Todd Ross, a dentist and adjunct clinical assistant professor at the NYU College of Dentistry, previously told The Post, “The mouth gives you a treasure trove of information about a person’s health.”
However, until recently, experts were unsure what specific oral bacteria could be linked to HNCs.
Researchers have now identified more than a dozen species of bacteria they believe can raise the risk of the most common HNC, squamous cell carcinoma, by an astounding 50%.
Study lead author Soyoung Kwak, a postdoctoral fellow in population health at NYU, added: “Our findings offer new insight into the relationship between the oral microbiome and head and neck cancers.”
Kwak and his team analyzed the diet, lifestyle, and medical history of roughly 160,000 Americans.
Saliva samples provided by participants were tested for microbes and preserved. In a 15-year span, 236 of those participants were diagnosed with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Researchers compared the oral microbes of those diagnosed with the 458 participants who remained cancer-free. The team found that 13 species of the hundreds of bacteria routinely found in the mouth raised cancer risk.
This group was linked to a 30% greater likelihood of developing head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. In combination with five other species often seen in gum disease, the overall risk was increased by 50%.
Researchers note that their findings establish a correlation rather than a direct link between bacteria and cancer.
Researchers maintain, “Now that we have identified key bacteria that may contribute to this disease, we next plan to explore the mechanisms that allow them to do so and in what ways we can best intervene.”
In terms of intervention, preventative brushing and flossing are the best defense against this problematic bacteria.
Professor Richard Hayes, a co-author and an expert in population health at New York University (NYU) said: “Our results offer yet another reason to keep up good oral hygiene habits. Brushing your teeth and flossing may not only help prevent periodontal disease but also may protect against head and neck cancer.”
The American Cancer Society recently declared that 40% of cancer cases and nearly half of cancer deaths in American adults 30 and older could be prevented with a lifestyle change.
Typically diagnosed in older adults, oral cancers are among those rising among younger generations.
Experts believe human papillomavirus (HPV), spread sexually and through skin contact, could be behind the rise. Among these causal cancers is Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OP-SCC) an oral cancer affecting the oropharynx (an area of the throat) and the tonsils.
Researchers believe that HPV affecting this area is usually spread through oral sex practices but can also be attained through kissing and sharing food. Among all variations of HPV, type 16 has been labeled as the highest risk, contributing to an average of 90% of OP-SCC cancer cases, affecting both men and women.
The news about the correlation between oral biome and cancer risk comes on the heels or exhale of recent research that suggests marijuana users are between 3.5 and 5 times more likely to develop HNCs than those who pass on pot.
The veto on vices continues, with studies suggesting alcohol consumption can also increase cancer risk.
Proper oral hygiene, meanwhile, has also been associated with a decreased risk of dementia.
