Dental plaque increases the risk of dying early from cancer.
A study published in BMJ Open reveals that there are links between dental plaque and cancer mortality. The authors of the study wanted to find out if it might be a risk factor for early death from cancer as a result of infection and inflammation, both of which are thought to have a role in up to one in five cancers.
The study hypothesis was confirmed by the finding that poor oral hygiene, as reflected in the amount of dental plaque, was associated with increased cancer mortality. However, they write, “Further studies are required to determine whether there is any causal element in the observed association.”