Can Bad Oral Hygiene Lead to Oral Cancer?

Good oral hygiene is an integral part of your oral health. It entails brushing, flossing, and professional teeth cleaning. Additionally, it lowers your risk of serious diseases. In addition to cavities, gum disease, or foul breath, poor oral hygiene can cause serious health complications. Research shows that bad oral hygiene may increase your risk of developing oral cancer.

Oral cancer is a serious and life-threatening condition. It can affect the lips, tongue, gums, and throat. Oral cancer starts as a small sore or patch and spreads to other parts. Understanding the relationship between oral hygiene and oral cancer can help prevent the condition.

Additionally, it can ensure you adopt healthy practices that preserve your oral health and well-being. You should consult a reliable dentist for an evaluation if you experience the symptoms of oral cancer.

What Is Oral Hygiene?

Oral hygiene involves keeping your mouth clean and healthy. It includes practices like:

• Brushing
• Flossing
• Using mouthwash
• Regular professional cleanings

These practices remove food particles and plaque from your teeth and gums. Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that forms when food particles remain on the teeth for a long time. When you leave plaque on the teeth, it hardens into tartar. You cannot remove tartar by brushing or flossing. Instead, you must visit a dentist for professional cleaning. The buildup of tartar can lead to gum irritation and infections.

You prevent bacteria buildup that causes infections when you maintain excellent oral hygiene. Good oral hygiene can impact your overall well-being. Poor oral hygiene means not properly caring for your mouth, teeth, and gums. It happens when you skip regular brushing, flossing, or dental checkups.

When you neglect your oral hygiene, bacteria can multiply quickly. These bacteria produce acids that damage your gums and teeth and create inflammation. Untreated infections may allow harmful substances to enter your bloodstream. When left untreated, oral disease can increase your cancer risk.

Poor oral hygiene also causes your gums to bleed easily when brushing or flossing. Also, you may have bad breath, which can cause extreme discomfort. Neglecting your mouth affects your overall health. The bacteria from gum infections can spread through your bloodstream and increase the risk of conditions like:

• Heart disease
• Diabetes complications
• Oral cancer

The Link Between Poor Oral Hygiene and Oral Cancer

Oral cancer occurs when abnormal cells begin to grow uncontrollably. It can affect the mouth, tongue, gums, or throat. The most common type of oral cancer is squamous cell carcinoma. This type of cancer affects the thin, flat cells that line the mouth and lips.

Common factors that increase your risk of developing mouth cancer include:

• Tobacco use
• Heavy alcohol consumption
• HPV infection

However, recent studies show that poor oral hygiene contributes to the condition. Bad oral hygiene creates an environment where harmful bacteria can thrive and multiply. The inflammation can worsen when the bacteria remain in the mouth for a long time. Inflammation of the mouth tissues is an early warning sign of oral cancer. Some of the ways through which poor oral hygiene can cause cancer include:

Chronic Inflammation

Failing to remove plaque and bacteria from the mouth irritates the gums and soft tissues. This can lead to persistent inflammation. Chronic inflammation is harmful because it causes continuous tissue damage. The immune system releases chemicals that attack the bacteria and healthy cells to respond to the infection.

Over time, this repeated damage can affect the DNA of healthy cells. Additionally, it can impact how the body repairs damaged cells. When DNA is damaged, cells may begin to grow abnormally. The uncontrolled growth can eventually lead to cancerous changes. Studies have shown that patients with severe gum disease are more likely to develop oral cancer compared to those with healthy gums.

The inflammation creates a breeding ground for abnormal cell development. When you keep your mouth clean, you can reduce the inflammation. In turn, it lowers the risk of cancer.

Bacterial Toxins

Your mouth has beneficial and harmful bacteria. Poor oral hygiene allows harmful bacteria to multiply. The harmful bacteria can multiply faster if you have gum disease or tooth decay. These bacteria release toxins and enzymes that attack gum tissue and bone. Research shows that these bacteria can invade oral tissues.

For example, P. gingivalis promotes the survival of damaged cells instead of allowing them to die naturally. When the damaged cells remain in the mouth, your risk of developing oral cancer increases. The presence of mouth bacteria in the oral cancer tissues shows a link between infection and tumor development.  You can reduce your risk of oral cancer by cleaning your mouth and teeth. You could do this by brushing, flossing, and using antiseptic mouth rinses.

Weakened Immunity

Constant oral infections can impact the entire body. Your immune system can become overworked and less effective at constantly fighting bacteria. The strain can exhaust the body’s immune system. It impairs the body's ability to identify and destroy abnormal cells that may become cancerous.

Chronic gum disease and poor oral hygiene create a double risk for oral cancer. This is because the condition weakens the immune system. You can build your immunity by eliminating the bacteria.

Poor Nutrition Due to Oral Health Problems

The food you eat can affect your oral health. Eating healthy and nutritious food will help you build your immunity. It allows you to fight bacteria that may cause oral cancer. However, you cannot take in nutrition appropriately with oral health issues. Bad oral hygiene causes conditions like tooth decay and gum disease.

These conditions make chewing your food uncomfortable. As a result, many people may avoid crunchy or fibrous foods. Proper oral hygiene keeps the mouth healthy.

Additionally, it supports better nutrition and immunity. When eating is comfortable, you cannot maintain a balanced diet.

Poor nutrition can lead to a lack of vitamins A, C, E, and other nutrients that help protect the body from cancer. People with decayed teeth or gum infections may rely on softer, processed foods. These foods may be high in sugar and low in essential nutrients. Such intake can lower the body’s ability to repair damaged cells.

Neglect and Late Detection

Another way through which poor oral hygiene can increase the risk of cancer is through neglect and delayed diagnosis. People who do not brush or floss regularly may also avoid visiting the dentist as recommended. They may ignore symptoms like:

• Mouth sores
• Red or white patches on the mouth
• Persistent pain
• Bleeding gums

Unfortunately, these are sometimes the initial signs of oral cancer. Cancer can progress when you fail to control it. Oral cancer in advanced stages causes irreversible destruction to the oral tissues.

You can identify abnormal changes in your mouth by practicing good oral hygiene. Also, you may be compelled to make regular dental visits. Your dentist can spot early warning signs of oral cancer during dental visits.

Combined Risk with Other Factors

Poor oral hygiene is not the only factor that causes oral cancer. Poor oral hygiene practices and other factors can sometimes contribute to the condition. These factors include:

• Smoking
• Alcohol consumption
• HPV infection.

Alcohol and tobacco weaken the oral tissues, making them more susceptible to bacterial toxins. The damage intensifies when these toxins are already present due to poor hygiene.

Symptoms of Oral Cancer

Oral cancer is not easily detected during its early stages. Many confuse its signs with common mouth issues like ulcers or gum infections. The following are some symptoms of oral cancer:

• Persistent mouth sores. You should not ignore a mouth sore that lasts more than two weeks. Unlike regular mouth ulcers, these sores may remain painful or unchanged.
• Red or white patches inside the mouth. You may notice white and red patches on the tongue or gums in the early stages of mouth cancer. These patches can be flat or slightly raised. They signal abnormal cell growth, and they need immediate medical attention.
• Lumps or thickened areas on the gums, tongue, or cheeks. A new lump, bump, or area of thickened tissue in the mouth could indicate a developing tumor.
• Pain, tenderness, or numbness. Pain and numbness around the lips may indicate that the abnormal growths have affected the nerve endings.
• Difficulty chewing or swallowing. During the advanced stage of oral cancer, you may experience problems chewing or eating your food.
• A sore throat. Persistent throat discomfort can suggest the development of oral cancer deeper in the mouth.
• Unexplained bleeding in the mouth. If you experience bleeding without an apparent cause, you should seek emergency medical care.

You can receive the necessary treatment to avoid further complications when the symptoms are detected early.

Good Oral Hygiene Practices to Prevent Oral Cancer

Poor oral hygiene can cause severe oral health conditions. These conditions include tooth decay, gum disease, and oral cancer. You can protect your oral health by adopting these hygiene practices:

Brush Your Teeth Twice a Day

Dentists recommend that you brush your teeth at least twice a day. Brushing removes plaque and bacteria from around the teeth and gums. Additional tips for effective brushing that you can use include:

• Use the right toothpaste. You should choose a toothpaste that contains fluoride. Fluoride strengthens enamel and helps prevent cavities. If your teeth are sensitive, you should avoid whitening toothpaste since it can irritate your gums. Before purchasing a toothpaste, you should check for the American Dental Association (ADA) seal on the label.
• Use a soft-bristle toothbrush. Stiff bristles can wear down enamel and cause gum recession. Therefore, you will need a toothbrush with soft bristles. Dentists recommend replacing your toothbrush every three months or when the bristles fray.
• Use the proper brushing technique. You should hold your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to your gums. You can then move it in small, circular motions.

Floss Daily

Brushing your teeth may not reach the areas between your teeth. Therefore, you should floss at least once daily. Flossing removes food and plaque from between your teeth and under the gum line. You should use about 18 inches of floss and wrap it around your fingers. Then, gently slide it between each tooth to remove the food particles.

Use Mouthwash

Mouthwash adds an extra layer of protection after brushing and flossing. It helps reduce bacteria and prevent plaque buildup. Additionally, it gives you fresher breath. You should choose an alcohol-free, antibacterial mouthwash to avoid gum irritation.

Drink Plenty of Water

Drinking plenty of water is another oral hygiene practice to avoid oral health issues such as cancer. Water also cleans your mouth and helps rinse up food particles. Fluoridated water reinforces enamel and helps prevent caries. You want to select water instead of soda or juice.

This is because these drinks contain acids and sugars that harm your teeth. Taking plenty of water throughout the day can keep your mouth fresh. Additionally, it supports saliva production, which naturally protects your teeth.

Visit Your Dentist Regularly

Brushing and flossing do not eliminate plaque or tartar. So you must visit the dentist regularly to have your teeth cleaned. While cleaning your teeth, the dentist can spot the early signs of tooth decay, gum disease, or oral cancer. The dentist will also provide some oral hygiene recommendations to help keep your mouth healthy and clean.

Find Expert Dental Services Near Me

Poor oral hygiene can have serious consequences for your oral health. Failure to clean your teeth or mouth allows bacteria to multiply. The bacteria can cause infections and inflammation of the gums or other oral tissues. Infection and inflammation can damage the mouth tissues. Also, it can increase your risk of developing oral cancer.

Brushing and flossing your teeth daily can help you avoid the condition. You should also steer clear of tobacco and plan regular dental visits. On these visits, your dentist can give you a professional cleaning that removes tartar and plaque from your teeth. They can also identify and treat early stages of oral cancer.

You should seek immediate dental care if you notice unusual sores, lumps, or persistent mouth pain. At Los Angeles Advanced Dentistry, we offer safe and reliable dental care for our clients in Los Angeles, CA. Call us today at 310-361-2080 to book your appointment.