New Delhi

Maintaining good oral hygiene could play a vital role in cancer care and improving survival rates, according to new findings by researchers from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). Citing global studies, the researchers highlighted a strong link between oral health and cancer outcomes, especially in head and neck cancers.

Pathogenic oral bacteria such as Porphyromonas gingivalis and Prevotella intermedia have been associated with increased cancer incidence and lower survival rates. The researchers emphasized that integrating oral healthcare practices across all levels of medical care could significantly enhance cancer-specific and overall survival outcomes.

Published in The Lancet Regional Health – Southeast Asia, the paper calls for stronger public health initiatives focused on oral care. Recommendations include implementing school-based toothbrushing programs, using mouthrinse-based point-of-care tests for early detection of periodontal disease, and distributing free toothbrushes and toothpaste to encourage better hygiene habits.

The paper also urges policy-level interventions such as promoting nutrition and sugar-warning labels, discouraging marketing of sugary foods to children, and collecting region-specific data to guide cancer care strategies in Southeast Asia.

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Researchers stressed that oral health must be seen as a crucial component of cancer care, not only to improve patient outcomes but also to support long-term public health and reduce healthcare costs.