ORAL MICROBES (BACTERIA & VIRUSES) AND THEIR CONNECTION TO CANCER

Scientists are now increasingly realizing that several forms of cancer, to a great extent, may not be related to long assumed genetic factors, but also to actual tissue injury through infection and resulting inflammation now being associated with cancers being created especially in the lungs and throat, stomach, intestines, colon and digestive tract. It is known that several of these oral microbes can convert alcohol into cancer-causing substances and when added with other possible irritants, the associations between heavy drinking, poor oral health increases the prevalence of oral and the other listed cancers. Untreated periodontal gum and bone disease usually offer the most direct reservoir of these microbes to filter to other parts of the body. Therefore, oral health and prevention of periodontal-gum disease becomes a most important facet for general health of the body and hopeful prevention of disease.