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
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