Oral Cancer On The Rise In The United States

The Dental Tribune (11/28) reports in continuing coverage that FAIR Health, a nonprofit healthcare transparency organization, analyzed data on privately billed medical and dental coverage claim lines related to oral cancer diagnoses, finding the overall number of claims in the United States rose by 61 percent between 2011 to 2015. According to the article, “The greatest increase was in malignant neoplasm of the nasopharynx, hypopharynx and oropharynx,” followed by “malignant neoplasm of the tongue.”

        MouthHealthy.org and the Oral Health Topics on ADA.org provide information on oral and oropharyngeal cancer for patients and for dental professionals.

Taking Care Of Children’s Oral Health Is Necessary

In an article in U.S. News & World Report, Jonathan Fielding, MD, professor of public health and pediatrics at UCLA, states that “we are not taking care of our children’s teeth,” noting that “tooth decay is among the most common chronic conditions of childhood,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Poor oral health in children can cause pain and infections and adversely affect school attendance and learning. Dr. Fielding notes that according to the American Dental Association, there are “more than 125 health conditions that may affect or be affected by oral health, including cardiovascular disease, human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, HIV/AIDS, osteoporosis, obesity, and autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis.” In addition, the ADA states that children with tooth decay are more likely to have tooth decay as adults. Given this, Dr. Fielding recommends children practice good dental hygiene and make dietary changes, while also stressing the need for additional public health steps, such as expanding access to fluoridated water, applying fluoride varnish and sealants to teeth, increasing Medicaid reimbursement rates, and expanding the availability of dental coverage.

Oral Cancer Rates In United Kingdom Increase 68 Percent

The Independent (UK) reports that new data from Cancer Research UK finds oral cancer rates in the United Kingdom have increased “68 per cent over the past 20 years.”

        In a release on Science Daily, Cancer Research UK stated about “nine in 10 cases are linked to lifestyle and other risk factors.” The release stated, “Smoking is the biggest avoidable risk factor, linked to an estimated 65 per cent of cases,” and “other risk factors include alcohol, diets low in fruit and vegetables, and infections with the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).”

        MouthHealthy.org and the Oral Health Topics on ADA.org provide information on oral and oropharyngeal cancer for patients and for dental professionals.

Study Suggests E-Cigarettes May Be Just As Damaging To Teeth And Gums

CBS News reported on its website in continuing coverage that “electronic cigarettes could be as harmful to gums and teeth as regular cigarettes are,” a new study published in Oncotarget suggests. “We showed that when the vapors from an e-cigarette are burned, it causes cells to release inflammatory proteins,” said study leader Irfan Rahman. These, in turn, “aggravate stress within cells, resulting in damage that could lead to various oral diseases.”

Oral Cancer Claims Rise 61 Percent Since 2011

A release on PRNewswire states that data from FAIR Health shows “privately billed insurance claim lines related to oral cancer diagnoses rose 61 percent from 2011 to 2015.” The data also shows that men were “nearly three times as likely to be diagnosed as women,” and “tongue and throat cancers in particular were more likely to occur in men than women.” Men and women had “similar chances of developing gum cancer,” the release adds.

        MouthHealthy.org and the Oral Health Topics on ADA.org provide information on oral and oropharyngeal cancer for patients and for dental professionals.

Oral Health Issues May Indicate Other Health Conditions

Good Housekeeping identified several oral health issues that may signal other health conditions. For example, chronic halitosis may be a sign of gum disease, says ADA spokesperson Dr. Sally Cram, who recommends brushing and flossing daily to help reverse early gum disease. If gums become swollen and bleed even with proper oral hygiene, the article states, this may be a sign of diabetes, warranting a trip to a dentist or physician. In another example, having prolonged tongue pain is a common early sign of oral cancer, says Dr. Cram. If the pain persists for longer than two weeks, or if any “sores, lumps or lesions” do not disappear, visiting a dentist or physician is advised.

Oral Health Issues May Indicate “More Serious Health Problems.”

Simplemost stated oral health issues may be a sign of “more serious health problems.” For example, white spots on the tongue may be a sign of oral thrush (candidiasis), while red and bleeding gums may be a sign of gum disease. In another example, the article stated that dry mouth, also called xerostomia, may be a side effect of certain medications, but it “could also be a symptom of something more serious,” such as diabetes or an autoimmune disorder. The article advised seeing a dentist if experiencing oral health issues.

        The Oral Health Topics on ADA.org and MouthHealthy.org provide additional information on xerostomia for dental professionals and for patients. MouthHealthy.org also provides information for patients on candidiasis, diabetes and oral health, and gum disease.

Study: Poor Oral Health Associated With OPSCC Regardless Of HPV Status

Oncology Nurse Advisor reports that a study published in the journal Cancer suggests poor oral health is associated with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) “regardless of HPV status.” According to the article, although poor oral health has been “linked to an increased risk for developing head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, including OPSCC,” the “impact of HPV status on the association between poor oral health and OPSCC cancer risk remains unclear.” Using data from the large population-based Carolina Head and Neck Cancer case-control study, researchers found “routine dental examinations were associated with a 48% reduced risk of HPV-negative OPSCC...and a 45% reduced risk of HPV-positive OPSCC.” Researchers also found “tooth mobility, which is an indicator for periodontal disease, increased the risk of HPV-negative OPSCC by 70%...and HPV-positive disease by 45%.”

        MouthHealthy.org and the Oral Health Topics on ADA.org provide information on oral and oropharyngeal cancer for patients and for dental professionals. The ADA Council on Scientific Affairs provides a statement on human papillomavirus and squamous cell cancers of the oropharynx. MouthHealthy.org also provides information for patients on HPV and oral cancer.

Dentists Can Play “Major Role” In Oral Cancer Detection

Noting the link between the Human Papilloma virus (HPV) and oral and oropharyngeal cancers, the Cape Cod (MA) News reports that “a thorough oral exam during your dental visit and dialogue about the subject can save lives.” Dr. Alessandro Villa, an associate surgeon at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, said, “HPV-associated cancers are a concern for all providers, and dental health care may play a major role in diagnosing oral cancer.” The article adds that “approximately 48,250 people in the United States will be diagnosed with oral cancer this year and that translates into 132 new cases of oral cancer every day.” Several symptoms may indicate oropharyngeal cancers, such as a persistent sore throat, trouble swallowing, ear pain, vocal changes, coughing up blood, and sudden weight loss.

Study Finds Association Between Good Oral Hygiene, Reduced Risk Of Some Cancers

Daily tooth brushing and regular dental visits “may reduce the risk of some head and neck cancers by a small margin,” according to a study published in the Annals of Oncology. The researchers examined “data from 13 studies including a total of almost 9,000 mouth, pharynx or similar tumor patients and more than 12,000 comparison subjects without cancer,” finding “people with fewer than five missing teeth, annual dentist visits, daily tooth brushing and no gum disease had lower odds than others of having head and neck cancer.” Lead author Dr. Dana Hashim of the department of preventive medicine at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, said, “I would argue that it is appropriate to say that this is a causal relationship because this study uses incident – that is, newly diagnosed cases of cancer, after oral hygiene indicator data was collected.”