Dear Oral Cancer & Diagnostics Insider,
Lactic-acid bacteria in plaque can cause caries, but in saliva these same bacteria appear to protect against human papillomavirus (HPV) and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, according to research presented at the recent International Association for Dental Research (IADR) meeting in San Diego.
While studies have shown that chronic periodontitis is associated with an increased incidence of head and neck cancers, research has shown that cariogenic bacteria are actually linked to periodontal health. Read more in our latest Oral Cancer & Diagnostics Insider Exclusive.
Another study presented at the IADR meeting found that while oropharyngeal cancers associated with HPV are increasing, especially among younger patients, these patients actually have a better prognosis than those with HPV-negative cancers.
In other Oral Cancer & Diagnostic Community news, given the dramatic rise in dental malpractice lawsuits stemming from missed oral cancer diagnoses, dental practitioners should make cancer screenings a standard part of every patient exam, according to a panel of attorneys at the recent Chicago Midwinter Meeting. Click here to read more.
And it may sound obvious, but eating at least five servings of fruits and vegetables per day can help prevent oral cancer, according to a study in the Journal of the American Dental Association. Clinicians should provide dietary advice for preventing oral cancer as part of routine patient education practices, the authors recommend.
Meanwhile, salivary biomarkers could improve early detection of tongue cancer, which has one of the poorest prognoses of all head and neck cancers, according to a study in Oral Oncology. Read how salivary levels of cytokine protein can serve as potential biomarkers for tongue cancer.
And with the 2011 baseball season officially under way, public health officials in 15 U.S. cities are calling on Major League Baseball to ban tobacco use by players, managers, coaches, and other staff at ballparks. Click here to read about the baseball community's efforts to curb tobacco use, especially among youths who see baseball players as role models.
Finally, public health officials are calling for two other consumer products -- menthol cigarettes and dissolvable tobacco products -- to be removed from the marketplace altogether. Click here to read how menthol cigarettes increase the number of children who experiment with cigarettes and the number who become regular smokers, and here to read how dissolvable tobacco products that are touted as safe replacements for cigarettes actually have the potential to cause oral disease, including cancer.
