Most of us are told from childhood that brushing our teeth twice a day is important to keep our teeth clean and healthy and to prevent potential cavities, however it can have another very important benefit.
Poor oral hygiene can significantly increase the risk of developing liver cancer, according to a study by a team from Queen’s University in Belfast, Great Britain.
Related news
The study, published in the United European Journal of Gastroenterology, found that those with conditions such as painful or bleeding gums, mouth ulcers, and loose teeth were 75 percent more likely to develop HCC.
The study, according to the UK’s Daily Express, involved more than 469,000 people in the UK, and investigated the link between oral health conditions and the risk of developing a range of gastrointestinal cancers including liver cancer. colorectal and pancreas.
poor oral health
Among the participants, 4,069 people developed gastrointestinal cancer over a six-year period, and 13% of these patients reported poor oral health.
said Dr. Heidi Jordaw, of the Center for Public Health at Queen’s University in Belfast and lead author of the study: “Poor oral health has been associated with the risk of many chronic diseases, such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes.”
There are two main theories as to why poor oral health is linked to liver cancer: the first examines the role of the oral and gut microbiome in the development of the disease.
Jordaw said: “The liver contributes to the elimination of bacteria from the human body, and when the liver is affected by diseases such as hepatitis, cirrhosis or cancer, its function will decrease and the bacteria will live longer and therefore have the ability to cause more. damage.”
–
HCC
He continued: “One of the bacteria is Fusobacterium, which originates in the oral cavity but its role in liver cancer is unclear, so further microbiome and liver cancer studies are needed.”
The other theory is that people with poor oral health problems, such as missing teeth, are more likely to eat softer, less nutritious foods, which can increase their risk of liver cancer.
Hepatocellular carcinoma is a type of liver cancer that develops from the major cells of the liver and Cancer Research UK states: “It is more common in people with cirrhosis.”
Symptoms of liver cancer
Men are usually more likely to develop hepatocellular carcinoma and it becomes more common with age. Symptoms include:
– Weight loss
Yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes
– I do not feel well
Flatulence
Loss of appetite or feeling full after eating small amounts
Stomach pain
A lump on the right side of the abdomen
Pain in the right shoulder.
–
