For years, an important association has been observed between periodontitis and conditions such as diabetes, stroke and heart attack, as well as oral, esophageal, and pancreatic cancers.
A new line of research now reports a link between gum disease and breast cancer.
Researchers at the University at Buffalo (USA) found that periodontal disease is associated with a higher risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women, particularly among those who smoke or formerly smoked. The results were published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.
In a cohort of more than 73,000 postmenopausal women with no prior breast tumor, after a 6.7-year follow-up, 2,124 were diagnosed with breast cancer. The investigators concluded that the risk was 14% higher among women with periodontal disease.
Periodontal disease and habit smoking raise breast cancer risk
Among women who had quit smoking within the previous 20 years and had periodontal disease, the risk of breast cancer was 36% higher; in current smokers with periodontal disease, the risk was 32% higher.
Lead author Jo L. Freudenheim suggested that the increased risk may be related to oral bacteria in smokers and former smokers entering the bloodstream and affecting breast tissue.
Periodontal diseases are characterized by chronic gum inflammation caused by oral bacteria, leading to the destruction of the tissues that surround and anchor the teeth to the jaws.
The connection between gum disease and systemic illnesses may be related to bacteria entering the bloodstream and, above all, to systemic inflammation driven by the release of inflammatory mediators throughout the body.
Purpose of this publication: to inform about the observed link between periodontitis and breast cancer, especially in postmenopausal women who smoke or formerly smoked. This information is general and does not replace a diagnosis. Given the higher risk in this group, a professional periodontal checkup is an important preventive step.
Caring for your gum health is an important part of your overall health as a woman. Schedule a periodontal evaluation. Contact us by WhatsApp, phone call, or through our form.
