by

Joseph

This is a sponsored post.

People often underestimate the importance of dental visits believing that the health of their teeth has nothing to do with the rest of the body. But a mounting body of scientific evidence says otherwise...

Periodontal Disease and Pancreatic Cancer

In 2007 researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health published a study which found a link between gum disease and pancreatic cancer.

The study, which appeared in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, followed 51, 529 veterinarians, dentists, ostopathic physicians, optometrists, pharmacists and podiatrists who  completed self-reported questionnaires as part of the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study (HPFS).

The HPFS ran from 1986 to 2002. According to lead researcher Dominique Michaud HPFS "examined the relationship between periodontitis, tooth loss and subsequent pancreatic cancer. " In order to accomplish this, the team studied health professionals between the ages of 40 - 75 years .

After adjusting for age, Michaud et al noted that men with a history of gum disease were more likely to have pancreatic cancer than men who did not have periodontal disease.

They also noted that men with gum disease were also more likely to be older, smoked and suffered from other health ailments e.g. diabetes.

Even more alarming was the fact that tooth loss was associated with a nearly 3 fold increase in pancreatic cancer when compared with no gum disease or tooth loss.

Michaud and her colleagues believe that inflammation played an important role in the results. They pointed to the fact that plasma C-reactive protein was 30% higher in HPFS participants with a history of periodontal disease than those without such history.  This demonstrates a link between gum disease and systematic inflammation.

On the other hand - and still very telling of the importance of good dental hygiene - people with gum disease and poor oral health tend to have higher levels of bacteria which produce chemicals which research studies suggest may play a role in cancer of the pancreas.

The Harvard team concluded that an association between gum disease and pancreatic cancer existed "that was independent of other known or suspected risk factors for this malignancy" and "increased severity of periodontal disease, as manifested by periodontitis with recent tooth loss, was associated with the greatest risk." 

Gum Disease and Colon Cancer

In 2013 Yiping Han and her colleagues at Case Western Reserve University published evidence of an oral bacteria that may have links to colorectal cancer.

The findings which were published in Cell Host & Microbe found that Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn), a microorganism commonly found in the human mouth, can lead to serious health problems if it attaches to cells in other parts of the body via a molecule known as FadA.

Han et al demonstrated that FadA binds to E-cadherin which is a special type adhesion molecule that is found on colorectal cells and non colorectal cells which helps the bacteria to attach itself to the cells and invade them. 

FadA changes E-cadherin leading to a lot of nasty things some of which include increased expression of transcription factors, oncogenes (genes that cause cancer), inflammatory genes and stimulating the growth of colorectal cancer cells.

The researchers mapped the FadA binding site on E-cadherin and synthesized a peptide from the mapped region of E-cadherin that abolishes FadA-induced colorectal cancer cell growth and oncogenic and inflammatory responses.

Han et al concluded:"Findings from this study will significantly impact our understanding, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of CRC."

What these two studies demonstrate is that oral health is a necessity. Research studies show that germs living in our mouths can cause cancer.

That it why it is important to see a qualified dentist such as Dr. Matt Lawyer & his team at Carothers Parkway General Dentistry for regular check ups because it could stop a potentially deadly disease from taking your life.

Give credit to God and if your work is truly righteous, you will be blessed.

***Like us on Facebook!!!***

Article References

Michaud DS, Joshipura K, Giovannucci E, & Fuchs CS (2007). A prospective study of periodontal disease and pancreatic cancer in US male health professionals. Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 99 (2), 171-5 PMID: 17228001

Rubinstein MR, Wang X, Liu W, Hao Y, Cai G, & Han YW (2013). Fusobacterium nucleatum promotes colorectal carcinogenesis by modulating E-cadherin/β-catenin signaling via its FadA adhesin. Cell host & microbe, 14 (2), 195-206 PMID: 23954158

"Why Dental Exams Are Important: Gum Disease Is Linked To Cancer" copyright © 2014 Living Fit, Healthy and Happy_(SM). All Rights Reserved.

Google+