Expert Doctors: This Hygiene Misstep Could Increase Your Risk of Head and Neck Cancer by 50%

Treating cancer is one of the most complex endeavors within the field of medicine, and unfortunately, preventing cancer comes with no guarantees. Yet increasingly, researchers are identifying shockingly effective ways to reduce cancer risk through simple interventions—and these may be some of the best tools we have in reducing cancer cases and related deaths.

A September 2024 study led by researchers at NYU Langone Health and its Perlmutter Cancer Center then published in the journal JAMA Oncology, has identified one modifiable risk factor that’s associated with a 50% increased risk of head and neck cancer. They determined that the presence of periodontal pathogenic bacterial complexes—oral germ species sometimes associated with the development of gum disease—lead to a heightened risk of head and neck cancer development. Specifically, these germs were associated with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, the most common form of head and neck cancer.

Each year, roughly 68,000 Americans are diagnosed with head and neck cancer, affecting the mouth, throat, voice box, sinuses, or salivary glands.

The research reviewed data from three large prospective cohorts: the American Cancer Society Cancer Prevention Study II Nutrition Cohort, the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial, and the Southern Community Cohort Study. In total, 159,840 individuals were included in the study, and 236 of those individuals were diagnosed with head and neck cancer.

The study determined that “overall microbiome diversity at baseline” did not affect subsequent squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck risk. “However, 13 oral bacterial species were found to be differentially associated with development of [squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck]. The species included the newly identified Prevotella salivae, Streptococcus sanguinis, and Leptotrichia species, as well as several species belonging to beta and gamma Proteobacteria. The red/orange periodontal pathogen complex was moderately associated with [squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck] risk,” the study states.

In practical terms, this may mean that by simply practicing good oral hygiene, including brushing and flossing your teeth, you can significantly reduce your risk of HNSCC. Tracking oral health may also help doctors identify individuals who may be at increased risk of head and neck cancers, leading to additional screening measures.

Doing so may also help your health in other ways. According to the Mayo Clinic, oral health problems have also been linked to cardiovascular disease, endocarditis, pregnancy-related conditions, pneumonia, and more.

Speak with your doctor or dentist to learn more about how improving your oral health could help lower your risk of chronic health conditions, including cancer. Brushing and flossing per their recommendations could make a world of difference.

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