Poor oral hygiene and health increase the likelihood of catching a virus associated with various malignancies.
Poor Oral Hygiene Boosts Risks of Developing Malignant Infections
Mirror reports that certain toothbrushing habits boost one's risk of developing cancer. Poor oral hygiene makes one susceptible to infection with a virus linked to different malignancies.
This is specifically HPV or the papillomavirus. HPV is usually linked with cervical cancer. While several people may not experience problems because of it, the virus may lead to mouth and throat cancer.
HPV specifically impacts the mouth, throat, fingers, nails, cervix, anus, and feet. It is typically sexually transmitted and infects any skin part with a mucous membrane.
If the infection is contracted orally, it may trigger mouth changes that could be cancerous. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HPV accounts for 70% of oropharyngeal cancer cases across the US. This link was also studied in a research published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Some Toothbrushing Habits Boost Cancer Risk
That being said, some toothbrushing habits are significantly associated with developing malignant conditions and even cancer.
A 2015 study identified two oral hygiene practices linked to higher infection prevalence. More specifically, HPV infection was linked to low-frequency toothbrushing and gargling without a toothbrush. Another study revealed that HPV could be transmitted by sharing lipsticks and toothbrushes.
On top of boosting HPV risks, sharing toothbrushes may also lead individuals to contract other types of bacterial infections. Other bacteria may also breed in the gums and enter the lungs. This may lead to respiratory problems.
Oral Hygiene Practices to Prevent Infection
The Daily Express reports that one of the easiest ways to decrease this risk is to floss and brush your teeth regularly. Moreover, it is also important to change one's toothbrush regularly, every 3 to 4 months, to ensure that the toothbrush's head remains clean.
Generally, individuals should also brush their teeth twice daily for around two minutes. WebMD also reports that flossing should be done daily as well.
Mirror also reports that gargling with water right after brushing one's teeth is not advisable. One should first spit out the toothpaste before gargling. Rinsing first may wash away the fluoride in the toothpaste and dilute it, making its preventive properties less effective.
For mouthwashes, the NHS advises using gargles that have fluoride. However, mouthwashes should not be used right after toothbrushing. Individuals should wash their mouths with gargles at different times. Moreover, the NHS advises that individuals should not drink or eat for 30 minutes after washing their mouths with fluoride gargles.
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