Our oral health has been highlighted again as researchers find a concerning link between it and cancer. As you may know, one has to be very careful about what one consumes as it not only affects our organ health but also our oral health. Although we are told time and again to fix our oral habits, many people ignore them. Things like brushing twice, eating less sugar as well as flossing plays an important role, even more than you realize. A major study from NYU Langone Health found that a specific group of 27 types of bacteria and fungi living in people's mouths are tied to a 3.5 times higher risk of developing pancreatic cancer. For a long time, doctors have noticed that people with poor dental health seem more likely to get this dangerous cancer. Scientists believe this happens because germs from the mouth can be swallowed and travel all the way to the pancreas, an organ important for digestion. Until now, though, no one knew exactly which germs were causing the problem. How Researchers Found the Culprits To figure this out, researchers conducted a massive and very detailed analysis. They collected saliva samples (spit) from 122,000 healthy men and women across the country. The participants rinsed with mouthwash to provide samples that captured the genetic code of all the microbes in their mouths. The research team tracked these people for about nine years. They then compared the mouth germs of 445 patients who developed pancreatic cancer with the germs of 445 people who stayed cancer-free. This comparison carefully factored in other important risk elements like age, race, and smoking habits. What Causes The Rise In Risk Of Pancreatic Cancer? The detailed analysis identified the specific microbes at play: Specific Germs They found 24 different species of bacteria and fungi that either increased or decreased the risk of pancreatic cancer. Gum Disease Link They also found three types of bacteria already known to cause serious gum disease (periodontal disease) were strongly linked to cancer risk. Fungi Connection This was the first study to show that fungi might also be involved. A type of yeast called Candida was identified not just in the mouth but also inside the actual pancreatic tumors of the patients. By looking at the complete microbial profile in a person’s mouth, the scientists were able to create a new way to estimate a person's cancer risk. This is a huge step because it suggests doctors could potentially flag high-risk individuals for earlier screening, which is desperately needed for pancreatic cancer since there are currently few effective ways to detect it early. Why Oral Health Matters The results strongly suggest that simple habits like brushing and flossing do more than just prevent bad breath and gum disease—they might also help protect against pancreatic cancer. The scientists emphasize that they found a strong correlation (a strong link) between the mouth microbes and cancer risk. However, they are quick to point out that they have not yet proven that these microbes directly cause the cancer. More studies are planned to explore whether viruses in the mouth also contribute to cancer and how the mouth's germs might affect a patient's survival.
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