A recent report from The International Agency for Research on Cancer found that poor oral health and irregular dental checks could increase the risk of mouth and throat cancer.
Smoking, heavy drinking and “low socio-economic status” are established risk indicators of mouth and throat cancers. The study covered 1,962 cancer patients and a further 1,993 control subjects across nine countries in Europe. The study was led by the Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology in Bremen, Germany, (Bips) and backed by researchers from Glasgow University Dental School.
Dr David ConwayGlasgow University Dental School”Up until now, it was not really known if these dental risk factors were independent of the well known risks for mouth and throat cancers – smoking, alcohol and low socio-economic status,” he said. The definition of poor oral health included people who had complete or part dentures and people with persistently bleeding gums.
Dr David Conway, clinical senior lecturer at Glasgow University Dental School, said: “People should not assume that if they wear dentures and have none of their own teeth left, they have no need to see a dentist. “On the contrary, even if you have got dentures, you should make sure you go for regular check-ups.”
People with poor dental care were defined as those who hardly ever or never brushed their teeth or visited the dentist. Dr Conway said the frequency of dental visits should be determined by a dentist’s risk assessment. ”It is not a case of one size fits all,” he added.
