Periodontal Disease and Cancer Risk: Another Reason to Floss

Periodontal disease has been linked to adverse reproductive outcomes in women, and some studies also suggest an increased risk for cancer. Investigators for the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study examined rates of incident cancer in >65,000 women (mean age, 68; 85% white) who were asked about periodontal disease at baseline and followed for a mean of 8 years.

Risk for developing any cancer was 14% higher among women with periodontal disease than among those without gum disease. Statistically significant excess risks were also noted for cancer of the breast (13%), lung (31%), esophagus (>200%), and gallbladder (73%) and for melanoma (23%). Results were similar regardless of smoking status.