There are various ways that poor oral health causes cancer, but a major reason is it increases susceptibility to viruses that are associated with certain types of malignancy. One such virus is papillomavirus, responsible for a great number of cancers that grow in the throat and mouth. Fortunately, various bodies of research have highlighted which toothbrushing habits could substantially increase the odds of malignant infection.
Papilloma-virus, also known as HPV virus, is an infection imitatively linked to poor oral health that affects the throat, mouth, feet, fingers, nails, anus and cervix.
The virus tends to be contracted through sexual contact and infects any part of the skin that has a mucus membrane.
When the infection occurs in the oral cavity, it triggers changes in the mouth that can become cancerous over time.
In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that HPV is believed to cause a staggering 70 percent of oropharyngeal cancers.
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One of the easiest ways to stave off this risk is to regularly brush and floss teeth, but there may be other habits worth avoiding too.
Replacing a toothbrush every three to four months is also important for ensuring the toothbrush head remains clean.
WebMD states that “some people brush, floss and rinse their teeth regularly, but not often enough”.
As a rule of thumb, a person should aim to brush twice a day and be sure to replace their manual toothbrush or electric toothbrush head every three or four months.
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The study of more than 1,000 women with oral HPV, found that the transmission of infections was associated with sharing of toothbrushes and lipsticks.
The researchers concluded their study with the remark: “These data provide additional evidence of transmission of oral HPV from oral sexual activity and also suggest possible transmission from self-inoculation or sharing of oral products.”
Not only does toothbrush sharing increase the odds of HPV, but individuals may also contract other bacterial infections that may prove destructive to the oral tissue.
Other bacteria may grow around the gums that can be breathed into the lungs and pave the way for problems affecting the respiratory system.
Alternatively, bacteria in the mouth may reach levels that cause other types of infections like gum disease or tooth decay.
Bacteria that infect the gums and cause gingivitis and periodontitis have also been known to travel to blood vessels and spur inflammation, which can lead to blood clots.
The association between the HPV virus and cancer was identified in early research published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
The research found that infection with certain strains of oral HPV is responsible for one-third of cancers in the back of the throat.
The HPV virus contains 200 different subtypes, but fewer than 10 of these are linked to cancer, with HV16 strongly linked to oropharyngeal cancer.
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