Table of contents:
- Elderly women are 14 percent at risk of developing cancer if they have gum disease
- Gum disease increases the risk of esophageal cancer
- So, why are elderly women more prone to developing cancer?
- Further research is needed
Gum disease is caused by infection and inflammation of the gums. But did you know that gum disease that occurs in elderly women can actually lead to cancer risk? Why is that? Check out the explanation in this article.
Elderly women are 14 percent at risk of developing cancer if they have gum disease
Gum disease or often referred to as periodontitis is a serious gum infection caused by a buildup of plaque, which is a sticky layer of bacteria that forms between the teeth. This severe infection can damage the tissue and bone in the gums if not treated immediately.
In fact, gum disease can also cause complications. The reason is, bacteria in the gum tissue can also enter the bloodstream and attack other organs.
Anyone can get this disease at any age, but it is more common among the elderly (elderly). In fact, the CDC states that gum disease affects more than 70 percent of people over the age of 65.
Unfortunately, a recent study published in the journal Cancer, Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention showed that older women with a history of gum disease are 14 percent more at risk of developing cancer. This study involved more than 65 thousand female respondents from the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study aged between 54 and 86 years.
Gum disease increases the risk of esophageal cancer
From these results it is known that the risk of cancer due to gum disease occurs in several types of cancer, especially cancer of the esophagus (esophagus).
Esophageal cancer is the type of cancer most commonly associated with gum disease. The reason is, women who have gum disease are known to be three times more likely to develop esophageal cancer than women who do not have health problems with the mouth.
This occurs because the periodontal pathogens (such as germs) in the oral cavity can easily access and infect the lining of the esophagus, increasing the risk of cancer in that location.
In addition, certain periodontal bacteria have been shown to increase inflammation even in small amounts. That is why it is important to determine whether gum disease is at risk of increasing the risk of esophageal cancer or not so that proper preventive measures can be taken.
Other types of cancer that have shown a significant association with gum disease are lung cancer, gallbladder cancer, melanoma (skin cancer) and breast cancer.
Meanwhile, the link between gum disease and gallbladder cancer is a new discovery. Chronic inflammation is known to be involved in gallbladder cancer, unfortunately there is not enough accurate data on the relationship between gum disease and gallbladder cancer risk. Therefore, the researchers hope that there will be further research to confirm these findings.
So, why are elderly women more prone to developing cancer?
Head researcher and assistant professor at the University of Texas at Houston, Ngozi Nwizu, said that older women are more prone to developing cancer because it corresponds to the timing of the carcinogenesis process in most types of cancer. The carcinogenesis process takes up to years. Therefore, the bad effects of gum disease are seen after a woman gets older.
Further research is needed
Actually, the relationship between gum disease and various types of cancer is not yet understood. One explanation the researchers offer is that bacteria and pathogens present in the mouth may enter the bloodstream through saliva or damaged gum tissue. In this way, pathogens can reach various parts of the body and are involved in the process of cancer formation.
Although this study involved a large population sample, further research is needed to establish the actual mechanisms that exist for the association between gum disease and overall cancer risk.
