Abnormal bacterial communities in the oral cavity have been linked to liver disease, renal failure, cancers, heart disease and hypertension.
The oral cavity is the door to the gastrointestinal tract and the rest of the body.
Like the gut, the mouth is home to several diverse colonies of bacteria, fungi, viruses and protozoa. It’s the second largest microbial community in humans, after the gut.
Changes in the pH (acidity or alkalinity), temperature and oxygen in the oral cavity are known to lead to abnormal growth of groups of bacteria which are usually harmless. When they become dominant, they can cause disease.
What is Oral Cancer?
Cells in the body can grow, multiply and die. A cancer cell is a cell that doesn’t do what it’s supposed to do; it becomes abnormal. Oral cancer is when some cells in the mouth become abnormal, and begin to grow and spread. These abnormal cells attack other healthy cells causing damage to the surrounding tissues.
Oral cancer can also be found in the throat, the area in the back part of the mouth, called the Oropharynx. This type of oral cancer is throat cancer, medically called Oropharyngeal cancer. Throat cancer is generally found in the back of the tongue, back of the roof of the mouth, the tonsils, and the area in the upper throat.
Dental Visits to Prevent Oral Cancer
Oral cancer can cause significant damage to the teeth, gums, tongue, lips, and throat area. If not treated, oral cancer can also spread to other parts of the body.
Regular dental check-ups can help prevent oral cancers.
