Gum disease could increase risk of stomach cancer
A large Swedish study has found that poor dental health, particularly gum disease, may significantly increase the risk of developing gastric cancer, especially cancers in the upper part of the stomach.
Published in BMC Medicine, the study followed more than 5.8 million Swedish adults aged 19 and older who visited a dentist between 2009 and 2016. Researchers tracked participants for an average of 6.4 years and identified nearly 4,000 new cases of gastric cancer during that time.
Compared with individuals with healthy teeth, those with periodontitis had an 11% higher overall risk of developing gastric cancer, the study noted. The risk was 25% higher for cardia gastric cancer, which occurs in the upper section of the stomach.
The study also found a clear dose-response relationship: Individuals with fewer remaining teeth were more likely to develop gastric cancer. This suggests that tooth loss, which is an indicator of poor oral health, could be a significant risk factor.
Researchers strengthened their findings with a sibling-controlled analysis, comparing people with gastric cancer with their siblings. The associations between gum disease and cancer risk remained consistent, indicating that shared genetics or early-life factors did not fully explain the link. No significant differences were found based on sex or age, and the results held up under multiple sensitivity tests, according to the study.
“Promoting dental health in the general population could have significant public health implications in preventing this disease,” the authors wrote.
Read more: BMC Medicine
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