Lazy Toothbrush Can Cause Cancer?

Never underestimate the teeth and oral hygiene. More recently, scientists in Sweden found that the increase in dental plaque has been associated with risk of premature death from cancer. This study is an observational study published online in the British Medical Journal Open, involving 1390 people between 1985 and 2009. At baseline, all participants were asked related to the factors likely to increase cancer risk, including assessing their oral hygiene. After a period of 24 years, 58 patients died and 35 of them from cancer. Those who died had significantly the amount of dental plaque is much higher. Dental plaque index in participants who had died more than those who are still alive. Researchers note, participants who died had an index score of between 0.84 to 0.91 - indicating that the area covered by the gums on dental plaque - while they are still alive have a lower score from 0.66 to 0.67 - which indicates the scope of plaque only part of it. The average age of death is 61 years for women and 60 years for men. Researchers think women should be able to live about 13 years longer, and men 8.5 years longer, so that they could be considered premature death, researchers said. "Based on these findings, the high load of bacteria on tooth surfaces and gingiva during a prolonged time may play a role in carcinogenesis," the researchers said. However, the authors caution that their findings do not prove that cause dental plaque as a cause of cancer. "The hypothesis of our research to see poor oral hygiene, as reflected in the amount of dental plaque, is associated with increased mortality due to cancer," he explained. "Further research is needed to determine whether there is a causal factor in the observed relationship," said the researcher. Dental plaque indicating poor oral hygiene and is a potential source of infection, which also had a relationship with systemic health problems.