Gaby
Maintaining healthy natural teeth and keeping up with regular dental visits matters for overall health. If you often forget to brush your teeth in the evening, consider these expert recommendations. Recent studies suggest diligent dental care may help protect against some forms of cancer.
More Natural Teeth — Higher Cancer Survival Rates
Researchers at the University of North Carolina analyzed health data from 2,500 head and neck cancer patients around the world. They found that people who regularly visited the dentist and had more natural teeth before their cancer diagnosis had better survival odds.
This study defines frequent dental visits as at least six appointments over a ten-year period. Those who regularly saw a dentist had a 74% five-year survival rate, compared with just 54% for people who never visited a dentist.
Frequent dental visits increase the chances of catching the disease earlier, at a less deadly stage, and give patients more time for treatment. Patients who had no natural teeth left had a 15% lower chance of surviving the five-year period compared with those who had more than 20 natural teeth. Most adults have 32 teeth—or 28 if their wisdom teeth have been removed.
Well-Cared-For Teeth — Lower Cancer Risk
Using data from the International Consortium for Epidemiology of Head and Neck Cancer, researchers also analyzed other aspects of oral health among cancer patients. In addition to patients’ dental visits and the number of natural teeth, they looked at gum bleeding, how often people brushed their teeth, and use of mouthwash. They found that gum bleeding, frequent mouthwash use, and brushing frequency did not significantly change a person’s survival chances.
However, Dr. Jason Tasoulas, a PhD at the University of North Carolina and the study’s author, emphasizes that good oral health is essential to prevent tooth loss. He says maintaining a healthy set of teeth depends on brushing twice a day, using dental floss or interdental brushes, and visiting the dentist at least every six months.
Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck is the sixth most common type of cancer worldwide. Its occurrence is often linked to tobacco and alcohol use. Dr. Antonio L. Amelio, one of the researchers, says the team hopes these findings will become part of standard recommendations for preventing and treating head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
