More bad news for people who neglect dental care; this time it's pancreatic cancer

A new study from Harvard University indicates that gum disease can more than double a person’s risk of pancreatic cancer. The more severe the gum disease, the greater the risk of pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer is the fourth-leading cause of cancer deaths and strikes more than 33,000 Americans each year (and killing more than 30,000). Common gum diseases include gingivitis and periodontitis.

Prior to this study it was know that persons with infected gums may be more prone to some serious illnesses, such as heart disease. From the study:

Taking into consideration such factors as age, smoking, diabetes and body mass index, the researchers found that the men with gum disease were 63 percent more likely to develop pancreatic cancer than those without gum disease. Non-smokers with gum disease were twice as likely to develop the hard-to-treat cancer as those with healthy gums.

Losing a tooth during the past four years from gum disease was associated with a 270% increase in cancer of the pancreas.

While it isn’t clear yet how gum disease leads to pancreatic cancer one possibility is inflammation. "Inflamed tissues give off chemical signals that promote tumor growth."

The key takeaway from this study is that dental care is a critical part of healthy living and preventive medicine. Americans are living longer than ever before but people are more likely to develop chronic health conditions as they age and the implications of neglecting dental issues goes far beyond having yellow teeth. If you haven't been to a dentist in the past 6 months then you meed to make an appointment. If it has been years since you've gone to the dentist then you are in luck, advancements in dental technology has taken a great deal of the discomfort out of the processes of even ten years ago.