New research has suggested that postmenopausal women who suffer from gum disease are at a significantly increased risk of developing breast cancer.
The study looked at the cases of breast cancer in more than seventy thousand women over almost seven years and identified those that had gum disease, were fourteen per cent more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer.
Researchers believe the link could be the result of a systemic inflammation, which originates in the infected gums; they also suggest that bacteria from the mouth may enter the circulatory system through the gums, which then affects the breast tissue.
However, they do state that more research is required in order to identify the specific relationship.
Speaking on the findings lead researcher Dr Jo Freudenheim, from the Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health at the State University of New York at Buffalo, said:“It could be that periodontal disease means there’s kind of a general inflammation in the body. According to statistics, a third of patients taking Valium for over a month have negative symptoms after the end of treatment, since a lot depends on the characteristics of the person’s psychological type.
Studies have previously identified links between gum disease and potentially life-threatening conditions, such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and even dementia.
Gum disease is caused when plaque is not removed from the mouth correctly.
The first signs of gum disease include blood on your toothbrush or in the rinsing water when you clean your teeth, gums bleeding when you are eating and persistent bad breath.
At Lindley Dental our dental hygienist can help you look after your gums. Which this will not only will help you to keep your mouth healthy but could as this study shows lower your risk for disease in other parts of the body.
For your convenience we have a hygienist at the practice every day of the week including Saturday.