Breast Cancer & Gum Disease in the United States by the Numbers
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported in 2012 that one in two adults aged 30 and over in the United States suffers from periodontal or gum disease.
The prevalence of the inflammatory disease, which affects the tissues surrounding the teeth was estimated at 47.2 percent, according to the CDC study Prevalence of Periodontitis in Adults in the United States: 2009 and 2010.
About 64.7 million American adults live with mild, moderate to severe cases of periodontal disease. Among people aged 65 and above, the prevalence rates rise to 70.1 percent.
What is Gum Disease?
Gum disease is usually classified into two types, namely gingivitis and periodontitis.
Gingivitis
Considered a mild form of periodontal disease, gingivitis is often referred to as its first stage. The gums become inflamed when plaque and tartar stay long on the teeth, causing redness, swelling, and bleeding.
No bone loss is involved in gingivitis. It can also be reversed by practicing proper oral hygiene like regular brushing, daily flossing, and dental cleaning.
Periodontitis
On the one hand, periodontitis is an advanced case of gum diseases which can damage the bones, gums, and tissues if left untreated.
In periodontitis, the gums form spaces called pockets as they pull away from the teeth. These pockets then become infected, leading to the inflammation around the tooth.
How Does Periodontal Disease Affect the Body?
Aside from its effects on oral health, periodontal disease is linked to other chronic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Researchers have also found relations between gum diseases and cancers, including breast cancer.
Gum Disease and Breast Cancer
In a study published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers, & Prevention in 2015, postmenopausal women with gum disease were found to have higher chances of developing cancer than those who did not suffer from periodontal disease.
The research analyzed 73,737 postmenopausal women in the Women’s Health Initiative Observational Study (WHI) who were never diagnosed with breast cancer. Nearly 26 percent of the respondents had gum diseases.
Six and a half years later, 2,124 of the women were diagnosed with breast cancer. The findings showed that the risk of breast cancer in women who had gum disease is 14 percent higher than those who did not have gum disease.
Smoking makes matters worse, putting women with smoking history at higher risk. Women with gum disease who stopped smoking within the last 20 years recorded a higher risk of 36 percent, while women with gum disease but never smoke has a six percent risk of breast cancer.
Knowing More About Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is among the most prevalent cancer, especially among women. The disease begins when breast cells grow out of control and form a tumor that can be seen through an X-ray or by feeling a lump. The tumor is considered malignant or cancerous when the cells invade the surrounding tissues and metastasize to other areas of the body.
In the US, around one in eight women will have invasive breast cancer in their lifetime. In 2017, about 252,710 brand new cases of invasive breast cancer were expected to be diagnosed in US women.
According to non-profit organization breastcancer.org, more than 3.1 million women in the US has/had breast cancer as of March 2017.
Men, though rare and 100 times less common than in women, can also suffer breast cancer. The lifetime risk of acquiring breast cancer for men stands at one in 1,000.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated over 508,000 deaths among women due to breast cancer in 2011.
Breast cancer incidents in the country have remained stable since 2004, and mortality has decreased by 38 percent from 1989 to 2014. Still, minimizing the risk of breast cancer persists to be vital.
Individuals are advised to exercise regularly, eat healthily, and maintain a healthy weight. In addition, health professionals suggest avoiding alcohol and smoking.
CDC recommends keeping oral health in check. Brushing and flossing daily help remove bacteria lingering in the mouth. The dentist also plays a significant role in oral health. He or she detects signs of gum disease that meeting him or her for a biannual check-up is necessary.