Brushing your teeth twice a day keeps plaque and bacteria in check, which can help prevent dental problems such as cavities, gum disease, and oral infections, all of which are risk factors for head and neck cancer.
The benefits of keeping your mouth clean extend much further than your mouth, however. Microbes can travel from the mouth to other parts of the body. This mechanism has been shown to directly increase the risk for heart disease,[1] Alzheimer’s, and diabetes. Dental disease can also lead to systemic inflammation,[2] a known cancer risk.
Poor oral hygiene has also been shown to increase risk of several seemingly unrelated cancers, including lung cancer, stomach cancer, pancreatic cancer, and colorectal cancer, though further study is needed to confirm these findings.[3],[4]
Flossing[5] also helps maintain better oral health and all the systemic benefits that confers, so if you aren’t already, consider adding it to your oral hygiene routine.
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