link between severe gum disease and breast cancer?

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I have had severe gum disease for quite a while and just recently diagnosed with DCIS stage O .My dentist even said to me back in Oct "I've never an a mouth like yours it almost like your body is rejecting your teeth or something". I eventually just had no other choice but to have the rest of the upper teeth pulled .Does anyone else also have these severe gum problems and do you think the two are related?

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  • ruthbru
    ruthbru Member Posts: 57,235
    edited January 2013

    I know gum disease has been linked to heart disease, so I wouldn't be surprised if there was also a cancer connection.

  • FireKracker
    FireKracker Member Posts: 8,046
    edited January 2013

    OH GOD NOOOOOOOOO.my mouth needs a complete overhaul.

    I must have put ten thousand bucks in it and now i need to have the top all pulled out.

    Is there a connection??????

    I sure hope someone comes on here with details.....

  • josie123
    josie123 Member Posts: 1,817
    edited January 2013

    I googled this and found at least 2 different articles linking gum disease and breast cancer.It has to do with the bacteria in your mouth traveling to different parts of your body.Sorry hope I didn't scare anyone.Wait that couldn't be possible since this has to be the bravest group of ladies ever!!!!!

  • Timbuktu
    Timbuktu Member Posts: 1,906
    edited January 2013

    there is a theory that inflammation causes breast cancer.  My teeth are a mess and I asked my surgeon if I should have them pulled.  She said "yes, they will make you sick".

    It's also common to lose teeth after chemo.

    But you raised the question a little differently and it has me thinking.  I have one tooth that is literally dissolving.

    they call it "resorbtion".  I've been trying to make it last but eventually it will have to go,  but they don't know what caused it.  Under the cap, above the gum, half the tooth is gone and the don't think it's exactly decayed, just resorbed,  Very strange.  I think there is a whole lot they still don't know but now the gum around the tooth is getting inflamed so I will have to have it pulled.  I worry about implants...  I don't have any yet but they are pushing for them.

  • josie123
    josie123 Member Posts: 1,817
    edited January 2013

    I thank you and anyone else who has experienced this for your experiences and opinions .I can just hear my dentist now"believe me if there was a link I would know about it". He' s a good dentist and knows we could never of afforded a periodontist .So he has done what he can with my mouth.I'm still going to tell him my theory though.Can' t wait till my new dental insurance kicks in so I can get my permanent dentures.

  • SelenaWolf
    SelenaWolf Member Posts: 1,724
    edited January 2013

    Please remember that a "link" between the two means just that; research has suggested that there is a possible relationship between gum disease and cancer.  This doesn't mean that they have established that this relationship exists without a doubt.  Sometimes when these "links" are established, additional research into the issue will either confirm the earlier findings or negate them.

    That said, gum disease is not to be trifled with for a number of reasons, not to mention the discomfort it will give you. 

  • FireKracker
    FireKracker Member Posts: 8,046
    edited January 2013

    Looks like i betta go to the dentist...and soon too.I have a gazillion things wrong with the top teeth.If there is a connection or not this has to be doen BUT i have bigger fish to fry right now.1-my son is goin for brain surgery next week.2- after thats over i have to go for stomach surgery cause if i dont ill be wearing a bag to poop.

    im late for my mammo cause of all this....and my teeth are rotting out of my mouth.

    i need this mouth to hold up just a little bit longer.Can you say a prayer for that?

    thanks Grannydukes

  • julz4
    julz4 Member Posts: 2,490
    edited January 2013

    I too have a mouth that's a mess.  I have Dental but still too much out of pocket to pay for what I need done!  Sighhhh!

    On another note geared towards Granny or any others that have major Tummy/Bowels problems.  I have 3 sons with major bowel issues.  2 have Crohn's.  My oldest was DX at age 19 with emergency surgery.  As a child he hardly had problems with his teeth but shortly before his DX & now at age 25 he is incurring major problems.  My youngest was DX at age 11 & just turned 14.  He had horrible cavities at age 6/7.  My thought in all this is when we have major digestive/disease in our bowels/digestive system it creates inflammation & malabsorption.  Our bodies can't absorb the right nutrients either because food is going through too fast &/or the area is too inflamed to absorb the needed nutrients.  It's a vicious cycle.  My youngest is on supplementation that is helping greatly with his teeth/mouth issues.  I think because we were able to catch his Crohn's early & turn it around has helped greatly.  Where as his oldest brother is missing some key sections of bowel that absorbed the nutrients better.  So on too me as I have had acid reflux for 6+ years now & have been on Nexium for 5 of those years.  I know it is harder for me to digest & absorb what I need.  But added to that I have had a lousy mouth since I started sprouting teeth!  Many factors come into play.  But I am sure some acerbate them for sure!  As we all do reading here we have seen that BC does not discriminate!  I read all the time those that have taken the utmost care through very proper diet & exercise.  Only to be attacked by this & some at such an early age!

  • julz4
    julz4 Member Posts: 2,490
    edited January 2013

    PS.....((((((((GRANNY))))))))))  my thoughts are with you ALL!!!!

  • FireKracker
    FireKracker Member Posts: 8,046
    edited January 2013

    Julz---I have seen you on different posts and everytime i see you avitar i crack up laughing...That baby must be a hoot.Thanks for the laugh.

    Seriously I have had teeth problems along with stomach problems for more yrs.i want to count.

    Im getting my stomach under control but i have no dental coverage and i know implants are out(not only for the bucks but my gums stink too)...Im hopin and prayin these teeth and gums hold out for a little longer....i have caps and a bridge on top with only 2 of my teeth holding it all together along with a huge white spot on the top of my caps.and 1 cap broke and the root is still there

    Does anyone really think there is a connection to BC?

    I did lots of other things wrong..not breastfeeding,large dense breasts,HRT for yrs.8 D&Cs.no wonder i got the beast...and now the teeth....My breast hurts just thinkin about it...Thanks for the good thoughts...it looks like i really need them

  • Ikari
    Ikari Member Posts: 40
    edited January 2013

    I had gum disease before BC and opted to have two teeth removed (one root canal) prior to starting chemo - if I had known what those two teeth looked like below the surface I would have had them removed WAY ago

  • julz4
    julz4 Member Posts: 2,490
    edited January 2013

    Granny he is my first Grand & is now 4 yrs. old.  He is lively one!!!  Hahaha!  Keeps me running.  I may be only 46 but god knew what he was doing when he gave them to young women!  I just had a classmate give birth 6 weeks ago!  I don't know how she does it!

    Ok back to the topic.....Who knows but maybe one day they will know.  It could be a link some day but I would hazzard a guess it all has to do with the inflamation.  The questions go on & on!  We can only hope we will get answers soon!

  • Stormynyte
    Stormynyte Member Posts: 650
    edited January 2013

    Interesting idea. I've had horrible teeth my whole life. I had to get them ALL pulled before I could start chemo because they were that bad. I could have saved some of them but it would have cost a ton and took years to be done with them all according to my dental surgeon. 

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