At our Midtown Manhattan dental office, we strongly encourage regular brushing and flossing to keep plaque off of your teeth and gums. But did you know that maintaining good dental hygiene can also lower your risk of dying from cancer?
According to research conducted by the British Medical Journal Open, high levels of dental plaque increases the chance of dying prematurely of cancer by 80%. The reason for this link is most likely due to inflammation, and since thousands of species of bacteria live in our mouths, plaque is consistently present. Plaque covers the surface of teeth, accumulating in the space between teeth gums; the persistence of plaque increases the chances of infection, which elicits the body’s immune system to defend against the inflammatory reaction. In turn, enzymes and other chemicals are sent into the bloodstream, pushing vulnerable cells to hastily divide and form tumors. It is also worth noting that one in five cancers are driven by some form of inflammatory process.
Clearly, good dental care contributes significantly to one’s well-being, and staying on top of plaque will prevent infection and the inflammation that is linked to cancer. Our dental professionals are also on hand to fend off plaque, and we emphasize the importance of our patients to keep up with regular 6-month check-ups!