A new study revealed that the gum disease periodontitis was associated with an elevated risk of developing tongue cancer.
Dr. Mine Terzal, from the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine in New York, and colleagues compared 51 men who were recently diagnosed with cancer of the tongue to 54 cancer-free “controls” who were seen during the same period.
The study did not include people younger than 21 years and also those who lacked teeth, had any prior melanoma, and those with an impaired immune system.
The researchers used bone loss seen on X-rays to assess periodontitis that leads to bone loss around affected teeth. Their report in the Archives of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, said that every millimeter reduction in bone was associated with a 5-fold increased risk of tongue cancer.
Dr. Terzal reported,
Periodontitis is a chronic disease that progresses very slowly. Seeing alveolar bone loss on X-rays indicates the infection has existed for decades, making it clear that periodontitis preceded the cancer diagnosis, and not vice-versa.
Though, the team now looks forward to conducting the experiment on a large scale. And also to find out the connection between tobacco use and periodontal disease and tongue cancer.
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Via:Reuters