Smart Mouth
Happy, healthy gums could protect you from pancreatic cancer.
Stacy Adimando
Researchers at the Harvard School of Public
Health in Boston tracked the medical records of nearly
52,000 adults for 16 years and recorded 216 cases of
pancreatic cancer. After adjusting for smoking, diabetes,
age, physical activity, and diet, the team concluded
that people with severe periodontal disease-marked
by chronic gum inflammation or tooth loss-were 63
percent more likely to develop pancreatic cancer (the
results were published in the Journal of the National
Cancer Institute in January 2007). Head researcher
Dominique S. Michaud, Sc.D., assistant professor of epidemiology,
says gum disease can introduce high levels
of harmful bacteria into the mouth and abdominal
organs, which may explain the link to pancreatic cancer.
To keep your gums in good shape, the American
Dental Association recommends you brush your teeth
and tongue twice a day with a soft brush (place it at a
45-degree angle and use short strokes), floss daily, and
see a dentist every six months.
