Beyond the well-known dangers of cavities and gum disease, poor oral hygiene could pose an even more serious threat: oral cancer. You may know that tobacco and heavy alcohol use are major risk factors, but could inconsistent brushing habits also play a role?
Emerging studies are raising alarming concerns about a correlation between poor oral hygiene and the likelihood of this debilitating disease. This seemingly minor act of failing to brush sufficiently or even avoiding a dental check-up could open the door to a major health catastrophe. The information below establishes the link between bad oral hygiene and oral cancer.
What Amounts to Bad Oral Hygiene
Bad oral hygiene refers to a long-term habit of poor oral care, especially failing to brush and floss regularly and effectively, leading to the buildup of plaque and tartar. Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that continuously forms on your teeth. When you do not remove it in time by daily brushing and flossing, it turns into tartar (calculus), which is much harder to remove and on which more plaque can adhere.
This buildup begins a vicious cycle of oral damage. The first phase, which is called gingivitis, will present itself as inflammation of your gums, making them look red, swollen, and likely to bleed when you brush or floss. If left untreated, gingivitis may develop into periodontitis. This is a more advanced form of gum disease. Periodontitis is characterized by the destruction of the soft tissues and bone that support your teeth, resulting in receding gums, loose teeth, and even tooth loss.
Why Bad Oral Health Leads to a Higher Risk of Cancer
The complex connection between your mouth and cancer risk is supported by interesting biological processes, primarily related to chronic inflammation and oral bacteria metabolism. Understanding these pathways regarding the systemic consequences of unattended oral hygiene is important. Your mouth, which you might think of as a distinct environment, dissimilar to the rest of your body, is a complex ecosystem in which imbalance can lead to wide-ranging effects, all the way up to your cellular health and susceptibility to malignancy.
Malignancy is a cancerous condition in which the cells divide uncontrollably and may spread to other body parts, destroying the immediate tissue.
Chronic inflammation, which is a feature of gum diseases like gingivitis and periodontitis, contributes substantially to creating an environment that is favorable to the development of cancer. The effect of your immune system being continuously stimulated by bacteria in your gums is that there will be a persistent, low-grade release of pro-inflammatory mediators. These include:
- Cytokines
- Chemokines
- Reactive oxygen species (ROS)
Although short-term inflammation is an essential healing mechanism, it is harmful to be exposed to these inflammatory molecules long-term. ROS, in particular, are very reactive molecules that can directly cause damage to your cellular DNA, resulting in mutations. Moreover, chronic inflammation may impair your body’s DNA repair mechanisms, reducing the chances of fixing cellular damage.
This persistent inflammatory condition also stimulates unchecked cell proliferation. Signals that cause inflammation may also activate pathways that increase cell division, raising the possibility that a mutated cell will evade the standard regulatory mechanisms and develop into a tumor. The immune system, which usually acts as a powerful guardian against abnormal cells, may be overloaded or co-opted in a persistently inflamed condition. This means chronic inflammation may override your immune system so that it can no longer recognize and destroy emerging cancer cells, thus enabling the latter to multiply uncontrollably. This creates an environment where precancerous lesions can progress into malignancies, turning the body’s defense mechanism into a cancer-promoting process.
In addition to causing inflammation, some oral bacteria, especially those found in abundance in people with periodontitis, like Porphyromonas gingivalis, generate metabolic byproducts with direct carcinogenic effects. Specific bacterial species residing in the anaerobic pockets of gum disease have unique enzymatic activity. For example, some oral bacteria metabolize alcohol to acetaldehyde, even in low concentrations. Acetaldehyde is a proven human carcinogen, listed as such by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). This process results in the constant carcinogenic (acetaldehyde) exposure to your epithelial cells, as acetaldehyde is continuously produced locally in your oral cavity, right next to your epithelial cells.
That is not all. These bacterial enzymes could also interfere with cellular functions in other harmful ways. They may alter normal cell signaling pathways, causing aberrant cell growth and preventing apoptosis (programmed cell death). Apoptosis is a normal biological process that helps eliminate damaged or potentially cancerous cells, serving as a natural quality control measure. When the byproducts of bacteria suppress this process, the damaged cells can survive and multiply, acquiring more and more mutations and accelerating cancer progression.
The fact that your oral tissues are constantly exposed to these microbial toxins creates a microenvironment that systematically destabilizes your cellular integrity. This promotes oncogenic pathways and raises the risk of cancerous transformation.
Damaged oral tissues, a direct result of chronic gum disease, also increase your risk of cancer by providing a more permeable barrier in your mouth. Your normally healthy, intact epithelial lining offers a strong protective barrier against external noxious agents. However, when this lining is damaged by the inflammation, ulcerations, and tissue destruction of periodontal disease, its protective value is drastically reduced.
Moreover, the ulcerated and inflamed gums offer ready access to the already known external carcinogens, including those present in tobacco and alcohol. These external carcinogens can penetrate deeper into the underlying tissues down to the basal cells, where the malignant transformation will likely start. This increases contact time and tissue penetration, allowing deeper interaction with vulnerable cells and significantly boosting carcinogenic effects.
What Increases Your Chances of Oral Cancer?
To get the complete picture of the oral cancer risk, it is important to note that it most often occurs as a result of a combination of factors. Poor dental habits usually combine with these more commonly recognized culprits to increase your chances of developing oral cancer, particularly:
Use of Tobacco and Alcohol Consumption
Tobacco use, which includes cigarette, cigar, pipe smoking, and the use of smokeless tobacco products, is the most prominent risk factor. Carcinogens in tobacco directly harm oral cells, raising mutation rates.
Likewise, heavy alcohol consumption also significantly raises risk as alcohol irritates oral tissues and may promote the uptake of other carcinogens. The effect of tobacco and alcohol is synergistic when used together, and your risk is multiplied much more than the sum of their impacts.
Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
Human Papillomavirus, especially type 16, has become an important and increasingly common cause of oral cancers, particularly those of the back of the throat (oropharynx).
Prolonged Exposure to the Sun
Extended sun exposure, in particular, puts you at risk of lip cancer.
Age and Gender
The risk factors increase after 40 years. Furthermore, gender is another predisposing factor. Men are usually more susceptible than women.
Poor Diet
Your oral tissues can become vulnerable due to a poor diet lacking essential nutrients like vitamins A, C, and D, calcium, and antioxidants.
These risks vary, but a significant number of them are modifiable, which implies that there is a chance of preventing them.
What to Watch Out For During Your Daily Routine
Early detection of oral cancer is the most crucial factor for successful treatment. In your day-to-day life, you can take the initiative to screen yourself and identify the possible symptoms that can be serious and that need urgent medical care. Paying attention to what happens in your mouth can help a great deal.
Watch for the following symptoms of mouth cancer:
- A sore in the mouth that has not healed in two weeks, especially when it is persistent and increasing
- Check your gums, tongue, tonsils, or mouth lining to see whether there is any white or red patch, known as leukoplakia or erythroplakia, respectively. These patches are precancerous
- Any new lump or thickening in your cheek or neck, or numbness in any part of your mouth or face
- Difficulty swallowing, speaking, or moving your tongue or jaw
- Chronic hoarseness or the sensation that there is something stuck in your throat
You need to make an immediate appointment with your dentist or doctor if you notice any of these early indicators of oral cancer or unusual bleeding in your mouth. Although most of these symptoms may be related to less dangerous conditions, a professional examination must be conducted to eliminate the possibility of cancer.
Actions You Can Take to Prevent Oral Cancer
The prevention of oral cancer is a complex process that cannot be limited to the avoidance of established carcinogens. The combination of your everyday routine, dental healthcare provided by your professional, and your overall lifestyle is your strongest line of defense against this illness. Incorporating comprehensive oral cancer prevention plans into your routine will enable you to lower your risk considerably.
Consider taking the following actions:
Take Care of Basic Oral Hygiene
Brushing and flossing are your first line of defense against the buildup of disease-causing bacteria and the resulting chronic inflammation, which may predispose you to oral cancer. It is essential to master these basic techniques:
- Use a soft-bristled toothbrush when you brush to avoid damaging your gums. Brush all the surfaces of your teeth and gums. Aim for at least two minutes and systematically clean all teeth's outer, inner, and chewing surfaces.
- Floss regularly, as it gets to places your toothbrush can not. Use the C-shape method. Carefully move the floss between your teeth, curve it in a C-shape around each tooth, and move it up and down along the tooth surface and just below the gum line. Daily flossing helps break up plaque colonies before they become hardened and generate serious inflammation.
- Clean your tongue. By scraping or brushing your tongue, you eliminate bacteria that create volatile sulfur compounds and are associated with an unhealthy oral biome, lowering the total bacterial load in your mouth.
- When it comes to mouthwash, differentiate between cosmetic rinses, which mainly leave you with fresh breath, and therapeutic (antiseptic) rinses. If you decide to use a mouthwash, an antiseptic mouthwash can add another level of bacteria control, but it must be used in addition to brushing and flossing.
Go for Professional Oral Care and Screenings
In addition to what you do at home, professional dental care and screening are not negotiable elements of your oral cancer prevention plan. Semiannual dental cleaning and checkups ensure you have a shining smile and a critical time to ensure early detection.
During these visits, your dentist also performs an oral cancer screening, a quick and painless procedure. Your dentist will visually examine all areas of your mouth, including your lips, tongue, cheeks, roof, and floor, searching for strange lumps, swellings, discolored patches (white, red, or mixed), or persistent sores. They will also check your neck and under your jaw for unusual lumps.
You are welcome to participate actively in this process. The next time you are at your dentist, ask, "Will my examination today involve an oral cancer screening?" This short query will make sure that this life-saving check is made. The lifestyle changes should include adopting an anti-cancer diet rich in antioxidant-containing foods. This will help fortify your body's defenses, which occurs regularly during your visit.
Adopt Lifestyle and Dietary Changes
Beyond thorough oral care and regular examinations, lifestyle and diet are among the most effective measures to avoid oral cancer. The most critical action you can take is to avoid tobacco in any form and to reduce your alcohol intake significantly. These are by far the two most common causes of oral cancer, and quitting lowers your chances of getting it by a considerable margin.
Due to the rising link between HPV and oral cancers, speak with your healthcare provider about receiving the HPV vaccine. Gardasil 9 is FDA-approved for prevention of certain HPV-related cancers, including cervical, anal, and oropharyngeal cancers. It is recommended for pre-teens and young adults.
Lips also need to be protected against the sun. Use lip balm with a minimum SPF of 30 daily to avoid lip cancer, especially if you spend much time outside.
Lifestyle changes should include adopting an anti-cancer diet rich in antioxidant-containing foods. This will help fortify your body's defenses from within. Add more berries, leafy green vegetables, tomatoes, oranges, meat, lemon, bone broth, and green tea to your diet to supply your body with substances that neutralize cell damage and inflammation. This will also help lower your risk of oral cancer even more.
Find a Dentist Near Me
The trip down the complex relation between bad teeth care and oral cancer highlights one important fact: how you take care of your teeth daily is much more important than you might realize. Even simple plaque buildup can lead to chronic inflammation and, when combined with other risk factors, serious health problems. However, this information is not meant to scare you, but rather to empower. You can do a lot to minimize your risk dramatically by practicing good oral care regularly and making active lifestyle decisions.
Do not wait until you have a problem. Whether you are overdue for a check-up or have noticed one of the early warning signs mentioned above, now is the time to take action. When you take care of your oral health, you take care of your general health. Schedule your general dental check and oral cancer screening in Santa Clarita today with Valencia Advanced Dentistry at Copperhill Smiles. Call us at 661-775-7717 to take this important step towards protecting your future and having a healthier you.
