Gum disease has been associated with many health problems in the past. A new study revealed that it is also linked to esophageal cancer.

Esophageal Cancer

Per Mayo Clinic, esophageal cancer is the type of cancer that occurs in the esophagus. The esophagus is the hollow tube between your throat and stomach. The food that you consume passes through it to reach your stomach where it will be digested.

This type of cancer usually initiates in the cells within the esophagus and may occur in any portion of the esophagus. However, most esophageal cancer occurs in the lower portion.

Gum Disease

Per National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, gum disease may result in simple gum inflammation to the losing of teeth. When the bacteria in the mouth combine with mucus and other particles, they form a plaque.

Regular brushing and flossing, however, may help you remove this plaque. The plaque that hardens form tartar, and the longer it stays on your teeth, the more dangerous it can become. It can cause gingivitis and eventually gum disease.

Gum Disease and Esophageal Cancer

A new study learned that the bacteria species that cause gum disease, called Porphyromonas gingival, is also found in patients suffering from esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), News X reported.

According to Business Standard, the recent study involved 100 patients with ESCC and 30 normal controls. The researchers found the presences of P. gingivalis in 61 percent of patients with esophageal cancer. They also learned that there is was a high concentration of "bacteria-distinguishing enzyme and its DNA... in the cancerous tissue of ESCC patients than in surrounding tissue or normal control sites."

"These findings provide the first direct evidence that P. gingivalis infection could be a novel risk factor for ESCC and may also serve as a prognostic biomarker for this type of cancer," said Huizhi Wang from the University of Louisville's School of Dentistry.

Wang added that if their data is confirmed, eradicating a common oral pathogen might help reduce the number of patients with ESCC.

Possible Explanations

According to Wang, there are two reasons this might likely occur. First, it is possible that the ESCC cells are the favorite spot for P. gingivalis to multiply. Second, it is possible that the infection of P. gingivalis initiates the development of esophagus cancer.

What To Do

Wang advised that antibiotics might help cure the infection. He also added that the scientists could develop a new treatment for esophageal cancer using the genetic technology that will target P. gingivalis and destroy the cancer cells.

Apart from this, Wang added that another step to reduce ESCC risk is to level up one's oral hygiene, screen for P. gingivalis and use antibiotics or anti-bacterial strategies to prevent the development of ESCC.

The study is published in the journal Infectious Agents and Cancer.