What’s the link between tooth cancer and a lower cancer risk?
Over the past decade, the number of cases of oropharyngeal and oral
cancers in particular have been on the rise. The reason? Smoking and the rise in the sexually transmitted infection human papillomavirus (HPV).
Now, researchers are saying tooth cavities, the second most common health problem after the common
cold, could help.
Why?
Because the bacteria that forms the plaque that eats away the enamel on your teeth actually have
cancer-protective qualities.
You see, these bacteria elicit an
immune system response, a so-called “Th1 cell response” that’s thought to protect your from oral cancers as well as cancers in the head and neck area.
And the results were fairly conclusive.
Researchers from the University of Buffalo recruited 399 people with head and neck cancer and compared them to 221 control subjects who hadn't been diagnosed with any cancer.
They split the subjects into three groups from those with the least cavities to those with the most.
What they found was amazing: “Those in the upper-third cavity group were 32% less likely to have cancers of the mouth or oropharynx than those in the lower-third reveals an online edition of JAMA Otolaryngology -- Head & Neck Surgery.
That’s pretty significant.
And it’s why, although preliminary, researchers are now investigating whether this information could lead to new ways to prevent or treat head, neck and oral cancer!
******* Essential reading *********
“By the end of summer, his doctor could find no trace of cancer”...
David had an 8cm
tumour wrapped around his backbone – entering his spinal column – when he entered the hospital in Vancouver, British Columbia. This former athlete was completely paralysed. Surgery was scheduled, but the cancer was officially declared “incurable”.
Just four days later, David walked out of the hospital, using only a cane. A year later, he was swimming and riding his mountain bike again. By the end of the summer, his doctor could find no trace of cancer in his body.
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While we wait for these findings, here are some smart ways to reduce your head, neck and oral cancer risk
According to cancer.net: “Stopping the use of all tobacco products is the most important thing a person can do to reduce their risk, even for people who have been smoking for many years.”
Other steps that can reduce the risk of head, neck and oral cancer include:
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Avoiding alcohol
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Using sunscreen regularly, including lip balm with a high SPF.
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Reducing your risk of HPV infection by limiting the number of partners you have sex (including oral sex) with.
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Eating properly: Studies show a diet low in vitamins A and B can raise your risk of head and neck cancer
Considering that one person EVERY HOUR OF THE DAY dies from head, neck and oral cancer, isn’t it time you take action against it?
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