Tooth decay may make colon cancer more aggressive

Tooth decay may make colon cancer more aggressive: Study finds people with poor oral health suffer more dangerous, hard-to-treat mutations Emerging research shows oral health impacts our brains and our hearts A new study shows bacteria associated with tooth decay may fuel tumors Colon cancer is more aggressive in people with this particular bacteria in their mouths, the study found 

By Dailymail.com Reporter

Published: 15:13 GMT, 4 March 2019 | Updated: 15:13 GMT, 4 March 2019

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Tooth decay may make colon cancer more aggressive, according to a new study.

The findings add to the growing swell of research that show oral health may be linked to much, much more than just the look and smell of our teeth. 

In the last few years, research has shown dental plaque is linked to heart health, neurological disorders, and tumor growth. 

And now Dr Yiping Han, a pioneer in this emerging field, has found another connection: people with bowel cancer may be harder to treat if they have poor oral health. 

The findings by Columbia University add to the growing swell of research that show oral health may be linked to much, much more than just the look and smell of our teeth

The findings by Columbia University add to the growing swell of research that show oral health may be linked to much, much more than just the look and smell of our teeth

Dr Han, of Columbia University's College of Dental Medicine, said the finding helps explain why some cases advance far more quickly than others.  

Ultimately, it suggests we may be blinkering our vision by focusing on the tumor's mutations alone, rather than other factors. 

'Mutations are just part of the story,' Dr Han said.

'Other factors, including microbes, can also play a role.'

The research

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