When you're preparing to go to bed at night, you may not consider grabbing the floss a life-saving activity, but a recent study out of the United States has found there could be a link between gum disease and a deadly form of cancer.

The findings of researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health appear to suggest that men with periodontal disease have a significantly increased chance of developing pancreatic cancer - one of the deadliest forms of the disease.

The scientists studied nearly 50,000 men between the ages of 40 and 75 over a 16-year period and found that participants who had gum disease were 63 percent more likely than men with healthy gums to develop pancreatic cancer.

The risk was even higher in men who'd lost teeth within four years due to the state of their gums.

"Gum disease, sort of one of the key factors that causes it, is actually an increase of bacteria in the mouth, around the teeth  ... the bacteria make their way underneath the gum," said Dr. Michael Glougauer, Associate Professor at the University of Toronto.

"Also some of these bacteria actually will make their way and invade into the body into the circulation."

Researchers filtered out other risk factors associated with both diseases, including smoking and obesity, but said this study doesn't provide hard evidence of the link. They believe that chronic infection of the gums causes inflammation in other parts of the body, which sets the body up for disease.

"More research is needed both to confirm this finding in other populations and also to explore the role of inflammation in this particular cancer," the study's leader Dominique Michaud said.

"The association may be due to systemic (throughout the body) inflammation and/or increased levels of carcinogenic compounds generated by bacteria in the oral cavity of individuals with periodontal disease," the researchers wrote.

What Is Pancreatic Cancer?

It's one of the most serious cancers, which starts when cancerous cells develop in your pancreas - an organ that lies below your stomach.

The pancreas produces enzymes that help you digest food. Pancreatic cancer spreads quickly and can affect surrounding organs, including the small intestine and the liver.

What Are The Symptoms?

Unfortunately, the signs of pancreatic cancer don't often appear until the disease is well advanced. When they do appear, they can include:

• Abdominal Pain: It may radiate to your middle or upper back
• Jaundice
• Loss Of Appetite And Weight Loss
• Severe Itching
• Nausea And Vomiting
• Constipation
• Early Feeling Of Fullness Soon After Starting Eating
• Diarrhea
• Bloating
• Belching And Hiccups
• General Weakness

What Are The Risk Factors?

-Smoking: If you smoke, you're two to three times more likely to get pancreatic cancer.

-Age : Particularly over 50.

-Obesity

-A diet that is low in fruits, vegetables and fibre

-A family history of cancer

-Workplace exposure to gasoline manufacturing processes

Prevention

• Quit Smoking
• Eat More Fruits and Veggies
• Get Physically Active And Maintain A Healthy Body Weight
• Decrease Your Alcohol Intake

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What Is Periodontal Disease? (information courtesy of the American Academy of Periodontology)

It includes periodontitis and gingivitis, which are infections that, if left untreated, can lead to tooth loss.

The disease starts when plaque builds up on the teeth and then on the gums, causing inflammation.

What Are The Causes?

• Smoking
• Genetics
• Pregnancy/Puberty
• Stress
• Certain medications
• Clenching or Grinding Your Teeth
• Diabetes
• Poor Nutrition
• Other Systemic Diseases

Symptoms (courtesy of the American Food & Drug Administration)

• gums that bleed during and after toothbrushing
• red, swollen or tender gums
• persistent bad breath or bad taste in the mouth
• receding gums
• formation of deep pockets between teeth and gums
• loose or shifting teeth
• changes in the way teeth fit together on biting, or in the fit of partial dentures.

Prevention

• Brush thoroughly twice a day, with a soft bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste, preferably in the morning and before bed. 
• Clean between the teeth daily with dental floss to remove plaque from areas your toothbrush can't reach. 
• Visit your dentist and hygienist regularly-at least once every six months, for a cleaning and exam. 
• Avoid smoking and using tobacco.
  

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