Could unhealthy gums give you cancer?

Do you do everything you can to take care of your oral health? Or, are you more of a quick swipe with your toothbrush kind of person?

Is flossing a twice a day ritual or a hassle you’d just a soon skip?

If caring for your teeth and gums is not at the top of your to-do list, I’ve got news for you…

You could be damaging more than just your mouth. In fact, you could be growing a breeding ground for cancer.

That’s because periodontal disease caused by certain oral bacteria has been associated with several types of cancer, including those of the mouth, head and neck.

And, now, a new study is linking poor oral hygiene to another extremely deadly form of cancer – esophageal cancer.

Esophageal cancer is the eighth most common cancer and the sixth leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Because the disease is often not discovered until it has reached an advanced stage, five-year survival rates range from just 15 to 25 percent worldwide.

The research, performed at the Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Center at NYU Langone Health in New York, and printed in the journal, Cancer Research, found that certain types of bacteria that lead to periodontal disease were associated with much higher risk of esophageal cancer.

Common gum disease and increased risk

Scientists collected oral wash samples from 122,000 participants in two large health studies and followed up with them for 10 years of follow-up, to determine whether or not they developed esophageal cancer.

The researchers also extracted DNA and sequenced the oral wash samples, allowing researchers to compare the bacteria found in those with esophageal cancer cases versus cancer-free cases.

Here’s what they found…

Certain bacteria types were associated with higher risk of esophageal cancer.

For example, higher levels of the Tannerella forsythia bacteria were associated with a 21 percent increased risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). The bacteria Porphyromonas gingivalis was associated with a higher risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

The bad news is that both species of bacteria are linked with common gum disease, which means that if you’re not doing everything you can to maintain optimal oral health, you could be setting yourself up for a deadly cancer.

10 Steps to good oral health and cancer prevention

To protect yourself from gum disease and the cancer that could result, here are the steps you should take to boost the health of your teeth and gums:

#1 – Brush regularly

Not only should you brush your teeth at least twice a day, you need to brush well and long enough. A good rule of thumb is to brush for at least two minutes. Don’t forget to brush your tongue as well, which can be coated with bad bacteria.

#2 – Use a tongue scraper

With that in mind, using a tongue scraper is also a great idea to get rid of all of that harmful bacteria. You will need to scrape from back to front 10 to 15 times.

#3 – Floss

Flossing between your teeth, along your gum line, at least once a day is vital to maintaining your oral health since bacteria can become trapped in pockets between your teeth.

#4 – Eat a healthy diet

Starchy and sugary foods increase plaque, and only a healthy diet provides the nutrients necessary (vitamins A and C, in particular) to prevent gum disease.

#5 – Stop smoking

Avoid cigarettes and smokeless tobacco, which may contribute to gum disease and oral cancer.

#6 – Check your medications

Be aware that certain medications can also aggravate gum disease, including oral contraceptives, antidepressants and heart medicines.

#7 – Exercise preventive care

Schedule regular check-ups to detect early signs of periodontal disease.

#8 – Chew sugar-free gum

When you can’t brush after a meal, chewing sugar-free gum can help promote the production of saliva so tiny food particles can be cleared away and your mouth’s healthy environment can be restored. But, don’t be fooled by those gums that contain artificial, chemical-based sweeteners. Instead, choose a gum that is sweetened naturally, such as with xylitol. Xylitol is non-fermentable by mouth bacteria and is reported to reduce cavities, as well.

#9 – Swish with peroxide and water

Buy a 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide, mix it half-and-half with water, and swish it around your mouth for 30 seconds. Don’t swallow. Use this wash 3 times a week to inhibit bacteria.

#10 – Store your toothbrush properly

Store your toothbrush in an upright position if possible. Don’t routinely cover or store toothbrushes in closed containers. The moist environment promotes the growth of most germs.

Don’t let poor oral health leave you suffering from gum disease and esophageal cancer. Use the 10 steps above to maintain healthy teeth and gums and stave off cancer-causing bacteria.