Study: Poor Oral Hygiene Increases Risk Of Oral Cancer
By Lynne Adkins
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Dental problems and gum disease can lead to oral cancer, according to a new study.
Maintaining good oral hygiene and health can prevent human papilloma virus infection and HPV related cancers, that's the finding of study in Cancer Prevention Research.
Dr. Jeffrey Liu a head and neck surgeon at Fox Chase Cancer Center says patients need to be advised that good oral habits are essential for a healthy body.
"Bad teeth are sources of infection and there's some data to suggest that patients who have poor oral care are also at higher risk for oral cancer," Dr. Liu said. "I think this study adds to that, that the risk of infection of HPV in the mouth is also elevated."
The study showed that poor oral health led to a more than 50-percent increase in the occurrence of oral HPV infection.
