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Does tongue cancer come from the gums?
For the first time, it seems that periodontal diseases have been implicated in the occurrence of tongue cancer. According to a team of American researchers, the risk of developing cancer increases five-fold once bone loss in the gums reaches one millimetre.
A good reason to insist once again on the need for impeccable oral hygiene! Because if our gums become diseased it can sometimes have very serious repercussions for other parts of our body. Earlier studies have shown that individuals suffering from periodontal disease are at greater risk of having cardiovascular conditions.
In this study, Professor Mine Tezal of the University of Buffalo compared the panoramic x-rays of 100 patients, half of whom had been diagnosed with tongue cancer. After eliminating a number of risk factors, including smoking in particular, the author established a clear link between periodontal disease and tongue cancer.
“Periodontal disease is characterised by inflammation of the gums, which eventually destroys the maxillary bone and causes a loosening of the teeth”, explains the author. “This inflammation could in fact be the cause of the proliferation of cancer cells”.
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