Gum Disease And Tooth Loss Linked To Breast Cancer Risk

Mon, 14 Feb 2011

Women could be at a significantly higher risk of developing breast cancer if they have missing teeth and gum disease, according to new research.

Health experts at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden conducted a study to examine a potential link between poor oral health and breast cancer .

They found that patients who had gum disease and missing teeth were more than 11 times more likely to suffer from breast cancer than those who had good oral health .

Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, said the findings provide further evidence of how a person’s dental health is linked to their general health, but added that more research is required to confirm the results.

"The British Dental Health Foundation has a history of campaigning for better oral health, and the findings presented in the study indicate another clear link between your general and oral health," he commented.

"If future studies can also testify to the link between missing teeth and breast cancer, more has to be done to raise public awareness on the issue."
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