New Delhi: A new study by researchers at AIIMS Delhi has found that maintaining good oral health can reduce cancer risk and improve overall health outcomes. Published in The Lancet Regional Health - Southeast Asia, the study highlights the importance of integrating oral care into all levels of healthcare.
Dr. Abhishek Shankar and Dr. Vaibhav Sahni, oncologists at AIIMS, pointed out that poor oral hygiene is associated with several major health problems, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, adverse pregnancy outcomes, Alzheimer’s disease, and various cancers especially head and neck cancers (HNC).
“Oral healthcare plays a significant role in enhancing health-related outcomes, including those related to cancer survivorship. This evidence underscores the necessity of integrating oral health practices not only at the primary care level but throughout all healthcare settings,” the researchers wrote.
The international INHANCE consortium, through a pooled analysis of 13 studies involving over 21,000 participants, found that good oral hygiene defined by annual dental visits, fewer missing teeth, and regular tooth brushing was linked to a modest reduction in HNC risk.
Existing literature also connects gum disease (periodontal disease) with cancers of the digestive tract, lungs, pancreas, breast, prostate, uterus, and oropharynx. Presence of harmful oral bacteria such as Porphyromonas gingivalis and Prevotella intermedia has been associated with increased cancer incidence and poorer survival outcomes.
The study emphasized that cancer therapy, especially radiotherapy to the head and neck region, significantly alters the oral microbiome. This can lead to complications, particularly in patients with pre-existing gum disease. Maintaining oral hygiene before, during, and after treatment is critical for better recovery and survivorship.
Data from the CHANCE study showed that regular dental visits over a decade were linked to reduced cancer mortality.
There is a need for more original data from Southeast Asia on the link between oral health and cancer. The researchers called for the development of cost-effective, validated point-of-care diagnostics with strong accuracy.
They also recommended public health programs to improve oral health, including supervised tooth-brushing initiatives for children and distribution of free toothbrushes and toothpaste. Such interventions have proven effective in other countries like England, especially in reducing health disparities.
The researchers urged for policy actions such as enforcing warnings on sugar-rich foods, restricting child-targeted ads, and strengthening anti-tobacco regulations to support better oral and overall health.
(With inputs from PTI)