Your Poor Oral Hygiene Habits Could Lead to Cancer
No matter how old you are, going to the dentist can be downright scary. And for most of us, avoiding the dentist is a good enough reason to practice good oral hygiene. That and making sure your breath doesn't knock out your loved ones, of course.
But let's be honest. Flossing can be pretty annoying, if not time-consuming. And that may be why only 30% of Americans floss daily. One analysis found that nearly a third of Americans flat-out don't floss. Period. That statistic is similar to the percentage of the population that doesn't brush enough.
Gross. If you fall into either (or both) of the categories, there may now be an even bigger reason to start taking care of your mouth: cancer.
What Does the Science Say?
According to a presentation given at the American Association for Cancer Research annual meeting, researchers at Ohio State University studied the dental health behaviors of patients diagnosed with oral cancer compared to those of non-cancer patients.
After adjusting for various factors, the researchers found that poor oral hygiene was associated with a significantly increased risk of non-HPV oral cancer. Patients who visited their dentist less than once a year had twice the risk of developing oral cancer.
What Do Bacteria Have to do With It?
Scientists believe that the oral microbiome likely has something to do with it. Poor oral hygiene practices cause a shift in the oral microbiome into one that promotes chronic inflammation — and inflammation is closely linked to cancer.
Brush and Floss — But Don't Forget Your Tongue
Cancer prevention is just one of the many reasons to take care of your mouth, and that means going beyond brushing and flossing. A major source of bad breath is the back of your tongue, where a bacterial coating harbors nasty organisms and debris.
If you want to clean your tongue properly, you need a tongue scraper. Using one removes that slimy film of bad bacteria, giving the good bacteria a chance to grow.
Written by: Hyo Sook Song
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