In a new study, researchers found that poor oral health is linked to a 75% increase in liver cancer.
The research was conducted by a team from Queen’s University in the UK.
Poor oral health has been linked to the risk of several chronic diseases, such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
In the study, the team analyzed over 469,000 people in the UK to examine the link between oral health conditions and the risk of a number of cancers, including liver, colon, rectum and pancreatic cancer.
They used computational models to estimate the relationship between cancer risk and self-reported oral health conditions, such as painful or bleeding gums, mouth ulcers, and loose teeth.
During a 6-year follow-up, 4,069 people developed cancer. In 13% of these cases, patients reported poor oral health.
In addition, participants with poor oral health were more likely to be younger, female, living in deprived socioeconomic areas and ate less than two portions of fruit and vegetables per day.
The researchers found no strong associations between the risk of the majority of cancers and poor oral health, but there was a strong link for liver cancer.
The team explains that oral and gut microbiome may play important roles in disease development.
The liver contributes to the elimination of bacteria from the human body. When the liver is affected by diseases, such as hepatitis, cirrhosis or cancer, its function will decline.
Bacteria will survive for longer and therefore have the potential to cause more harm.
One bacteria, Fusobacterium nucleatum, originates in the oral cavity but its role in liver cancer is unclear.
Future work needs to find out how bacteria contribute to liver cancer.
Another possible explanation is that people with a high number of missing teeth may alter their diet, eating softer and potentially less nutritious foods, which in turn influence the risk of liver cancer.
Previous research has shown that up to half of cases of liver cancer are preventable. The risk factors often relating to lifestyle, such as overweight or obesity, smoking, and alcohol consumption.
The lead author of the study is Dr. Haydée WT Jordão, from the Centre of Public Health at Queen’s University Belfast.
The study is published in the United European Gastroenterology Journal.
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