Gum disease linked to higher cancer risk

MIAMI, Florida - Women who have a history of gum disease face a higher risk of several types of cancer, particularly tumors in the esophagus and breasts, a US study found on Tuesday.

"A history of periodontal disease was associated with a 14 percent higher risk of developing any cancer," said the study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.

"The strongest association was for cancer of the esophagus, which was more than three times more likely in women with periodontal disease than women."