Study Ties Poor Oral Health to Cancer Causing Oral HPV Infection

A new study discovered a strong association between poor oral health and oral human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.

The new study conducted by researchers at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center states that poor oral health that includes dental problems and gum diseases triggers the cancer causing oral HPV infection that causes 40-80 percent of oropharyngeal cancers.

"Poor oral health is a new independent risk factor for oral HPV infection and, to our knowledge, this is the first study to examine this association," Thanh Cong Bui, Dr.P.H., postdoctoral research fellow in the School of Public Health at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center in Houston, said in a press statement. "The good news is, this risk factor is modifiable - by maintaining good oral hygiene and good oral health, one can prevent HPV infection and subsequent HPV-related cancers."

The people who reported poor oral health suffered a 56 percent higher risk of oral HPV infection. The risk of oral HPV was 51 percent high in those with gum disease and 28 percent in those with dental problems. Apart from this, the researchers were able to link oral HPV infection with number of teeth a person loses.

Oral HPV infections do not cause any clinical signs or symptoms. They are of two types; infection caused with low risk of HPV does not trigger cancer but can cause benign tumors and warts in oral cavity. On the other hand, infection caused due to high risk of HPV can cause oropharyngeal cancer.

The study was led by Bui, Christine Markham, Ph.D.. He used data collected from 2009-2010 of  5000 U.S. participants who were a part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

Four measures of oral health were included in the data such as self-rating of overall oral health, presence of gum disease, use of mouthwash to treat dental problems within past seven days of the survey, and number of teeth lost.

In males the risk of HPV increased with use of marijuana, cigarette smoking and oral sex. Apart from this, they also noticed that for oral HPV infection, self-rated overall oral health was an independent risk factor

"Although more research is needed to confirm the causal relationship between oral health and oral HPV infection, people may want to maintain good oral health for a variety of health benefits," said Bui. "Oral hygiene is fundamental for oral health, so good oral hygiene practices should become a personal habit."

The study was published in the journal Cancer Prevention Research.