The periodontist of our dental clinic Dr Aliki Chatzogianni mentions that according to a publication in Lancet Oncology, periodontal diseases are signs for increased risk of cancer among smokers and non smokers.

During the last decade, periodontal disease has been associated with systematic diseases and other pathological conditions. Studies indicate an increased correlation of periodontal disease, diabetes and birth of premature and underweight babies.Studies which were conducted at Imperial College London showed that periodontal disease is also associated with an increased chance of different types of cancer (lung, kidney, pancreatic, blood).

Researchers have studied medical records of 50.000 men and found that infirmity of immune system can cause both conditions. It should be mentioned that the majority of British population suffers from some type of periodontal disease caused by persistent bacterial infection. This problem is more common among smokers. However the present study indicates that periodontal disease increases the risk for cancer even for non smokers.

Researchers analysed questionnaires regarding the health of American men since 1986. They found that those with a history of periodontal disease had a 14% higher chance of cancer compared to those who didn’t have history of periodontal disease. The risk of lung, kidney and pancreatic cancer was increased by 30, 50 and 50% respectively. Blood cancers such as leukemia were increased by 30% among men with periodontal disease.

There are several theories regarding the correlation of  periodontal disease to other conditions. Patients with periodontal infections may have chemical signs that inflammation can be reflected in other parts of the body, as there is evidence that bacteria associated with periodontal disease can cause problems elsewhere in the body. The increase in hematologic cancers highlights a link to the immune system. The persistent presence of periodontal disease may be a sign of weakness in the immune system, which may increase the cancer risk. Also, the data may reflect a similarity of immune function and inflammatory response, which contributes to both periodontal disease and hematologic cancers. However, it is also possible that the long-term effect of periodontal disease may cause changes in the immune response that increases the chances of cancer, or the bacteria from the gums can directly cause cancer in the tissues of the oral cavity or larynx.

The periodontist Dr Aliki Chatzogianni, however, notes that scientists are currently not able to make recommendations for cancer prevention based on the findings of the present study as they are premature. Patients with periodontal disease should seek medical attention from specialised dentists regardless of the effect of the disease on cancer.