Table of contents:
- Overview of head and neck cancer
- Why does chronic gum disease increase a person's risk of head and neck cancer?
- What can be done to prevent head and neck cancer
During this time, you may have underestimated swollen and bleeding gums. Indeed, most cases of bleeding gums are mild, so you may not even know you have this condition. But this doesn't mean you have to continue to leave it untreated. A study reports that your risk of developing head and neck cancer can increase dramatically if you have chronic gum pain (periodontitis). How can?
Now, before discussing more about the link between chronic gum pain and head and neck cancer, it's good to know what head and neck cancer is.
Overview of head and neck cancer
Head and neck cancer is the development of a number of malignant tumors around the tissues and organs of the head and neck. Thus, this cancer may include cancer of the larynx (vocal cords), cancer of the throat, cancer of the mouth (including the lips), cancer of the nose and sinuses, and / or cancer of the salivary glands.
Head and neck cancer is common in the age group of 50 years and over, although it does not rule out that it can also affect young children. Adult men have twice the risk of developing head and neck cancer than women.
Head and neck cancer is not as popular as other cancers, such as breast cancer and cervical cancer. However, don't underestimate this type of cancer because your life could be at stake if you don't get the right treatment right away. The number of people with head and neck cancer in Indonesia alone has reached 32 thousand people per year.
Why does chronic gum disease increase a person's risk of head and neck cancer?
Smoking is the biggest risk factor for head and neck cancer. However, not many are aware that chronic gum disease, which in medical terms is called periodontitis, is also one of the most common causes of this type of cancer.
Periodontitis is a continuation of untreated inflammation of the gums (gingivitis). Bacteria that cause gingivitis,Porphyromonas gingivalis, releases toxins that cause plaque to build up between the teeth, which then infects and damages the soft tissue of the gums and bones that support the teeth.
BacteriaPorphyromonas gingivalishas long been associated with the development of malignant tumor cells in the tissues around the head and neck, because the toxins it releases including free radicals are carcinogenic (cancer triggers).
This theory is strengthened by a study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers, and Prevention. Researchers found that every millimeter of loss of the jawbone from chronic gum disease was associated with a more than fourfold increased risk of head and neck cancer.
Researchers also found that periodontitis was most associated with the development of oral cancer, cancer of the oropharynx (back of the mouth and throat), and cancer of the larynx (voice box).
What can be done to prevent head and neck cancer
One great way to prevent head and neck cancer is to make sure that you keep your teeth and mouth clean. Here are some easy ways you can take care of your teeth and mouth:
- Diligently brush your teeth at least twice a day when you wake up in the morning and before going to bed with certainty that the teeth contain fluoride.
- Floss your teeth at least once a day.
- Avoid consuming too many sweet foods.
- Routinely consult a dentist at least every 6 months to perform dental cleaning and check teeth as a whole. Especially if you already have a history of gum disease, regularly consult a doctor so you can get the right treatment according to your needs.
- Not smoking or quitting smoking, including hand-rolled tobacco, cigars, or pipes; chewing tobacco; also electronic cigarettes.
