Tag Archives: breast cancer

The Connection Between Dental Health and Overall Health: What Every Patient Should Know This Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Posted by Genny Skrobanek on October 7, 2025

The Connection Between Dental Health and Overall Health: What Every Patient Should Know This Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time to honor survivors, support those fighting, and encourage everyone to prioritize their health. At GPS Dental, we’re passionate about helping our patients understand that your oral health plays a vital role in your overall health — including your immune system and even your body’s ability to fight serious diseases like cancer.

It’s easy to think of dental care as separate from the rest of your health, but research tells a different story. Your mouth is a mirror of what’s happening inside your body — and problems like gum disease or chronic inflammation can have a significant impact beyond your smile.

Let’s take a closer look at how dental health and overall health are connected — and why maintaining your oral hygiene is an important part of staying healthy, especially during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The Mouth-Body Connection

Your mouth is full of bacteria — most of them harmless. However, when harmful bacteria build up due to poor oral hygiene, they can cause gum disease (periodontitis), which leads to inflammation and infection in the tissues supporting your teeth.

If left untreated, this inflammation doesn’t just stay in your mouth. It can enter your bloodstream and affect other parts of your body, contributing to a range of health issues, such as:

  • Heart disease
  • Diabetes
  • Respiratory infections
  • Pregnancy complications
  • Certain cancers, including breast cancer

At GPS Dental, Dr. Skrobanek often reminds patients that your gums are not isolated from the rest of your body. They’re part of a complex system, and taking care of them helps protect your overall health.

Gum Disease and Inflammation: The Hidden Link

One of the most significant connections between oral health and systemic health is inflammation. Chronic inflammation caused by gum disease can weaken your immune system, making it harder for your body to fight off infections or abnormal cell growth.

Recent studies have suggested a potential link between gum disease and breast cancer, showing that women with gum disease may have a higher risk of developing breast cancer compared to those with healthy gums. While more research is needed, the connection highlights the importance of maintaining oral health as part of your overall wellness plan.

Inflammation is a common factor in both gum disease and many chronic illnesses. Keeping your gums healthy may help reduce systemic inflammation and support your immune system’s ability to function properly — something that’s especially critical for individuals with cancer or those at higher risk.

How Dental Health Affects Cancer Treatment and Recovery

For patients undergoing cancer treatment, oral health becomes even more important. Chemotherapy, radiation, and certain medications can cause side effects in the mouth, such as:

  • Dry mouth (xerostomia)
  • Mouth sores
  • Gum inflammation or bleeding
  • Increased risk of infection

Maintaining regular dental checkups before, during, and after cancer treatment can help manage these side effects and prevent complications that could interrupt care.

At GPS Dental, our compassionate team works closely with patients to create customized treatment plans that prioritize comfort and oral wellness. Whether you’re preparing for cancer treatment or are currently in recovery, we’ll make sure your dental care supports your overall health and healing.

Preventive Care: The Foundation of Total Health

Preventive dental care isn’t just about keeping your teeth clean — it’s about protecting your body from harmful bacteria and inflammation that can contribute to other diseases. Here’s what you can do to safeguard both your oral and overall health:

  1. Brush Twice Daily and Floss Once a Day
    Proper brushing and flossing remove plaque and bacteria that cause gum disease and inflammation.
  2. Schedule Regular Dental Visits
    Routine checkups every six months (or more often if recommended) help detect early signs of gum disease, infection, or other concerns.
  3. Eat a Balanced Diet
    Nutrient-rich foods help strengthen your immune system and keep your gums healthy. Choose foods high in vitamins C and D, calcium, and antioxidants.
  4. Stay Hydrated
    A healthy saliva flow protects your mouth by washing away food particles and neutralizing acids that cause tooth decay.
  5. Avoid Tobacco
    Smoking and tobacco use increase your risk for gum disease, oral cancer, and breast cancer.
  6. Manage Stress
    Chronic stress can weaken your immune system and contribute to inflammation, so finding ways to manage it is beneficial for both your oral and overall health.

Dr. Skrobanek and the GPS Dental Team: Supporting Your Whole-Body Health

At GPS Dental, Dr. Skrobanek and his team believe in treating patients as a whole — not just their teeth. We understand that oral health and systemic health are deeply connected, and we take pride in helping our patients take a proactive approach to total wellness.

When you come in for your regular dental exams, we’re not just looking for cavities or cleaning your teeth. We’re also screening for early signs of gum disease, oral cancer, and other health concerns that can impact your overall well-being.

If you have a history of cancer, chronic inflammation, or other health challenges, our team will work with you to tailor your care and ensure your dental visits support your overall health goals.

This October, Take Charge of Your Health

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a powerful reminder to take care of yourself — body, mind, and smile. 💗 By prioritizing your dental health, you’re doing more than just protecting your teeth — you’re helping your body stay strong and resilient.

Whether it’s time for your next cleaning or you have questions about how your oral health affects your overall wellness, Dr. Skrobanek and the team at GPS Dental are here to help.

📞 Call (210) 633-3477 or visit gpsdentalsa.com to schedule your appointment today.

Let’s work together to keep your smile — and your whole body — healthy for life.

Dr. Gary P. Skrobanek is a dental implant dentist and his experienced, friendly team at GPS Dental offer affordable family dentistry and gentle dental care in the San Antonio, TX area. Our Brooks City Base dentist office is conveniently located and offers early morning appointment times Monday through Friday to meet your needs. At GPS Dental, we provide most dental services, from family and general dentistry to dental implants, sleep apnea, TMJ / TMD Treatment, cosmetic dentistry and much more. We accept most dental insurance plans and offer affordable financial solutions for any budget. Call us at (210) 633-3477 to make an appointment. 

Breast Cancer Oral Health Link: Does Gum Disease Increase the Risk?

Posted by Genny Skrobanek on October 4, 2022

Postmenopausal Women with Gum Disease Seem to Have Higher Breast Cancer Risk

Research suggests that postmenopausal women with gum disease are more likely to develop breast cancer than postmenopausal women who don’t have gum disease. Why? Let’s discuss the breast cancer oral health link.

If a woman has a history of smoking, the risk of breast cancer may be even higher

Gum disease, also called periodontal disease, can range from simple inflammation of the gums, called gingivitis, to periodontitis, when the gums pull away from the teeth leaving open spaces that become infected. The bacteria causing the infection and the body’s response to the infection can break down the bone and connective tissue that hold your teeth in place. If periodontitis isn’t treated, the teeth may become loose and must be removed.

Gum disease can be prevented by regular tooth brushing and flossing.

Gum disease has been associated with several other diseases, including heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Past research has found links between gum disease and oral, esophageal, head and neck, pancreatic, and lung cancer

So … are there any links between gum disease and breast cancer?

A study has found that postmenopausal women with gum disease were more likely to develop breast cancer than postmenopausal women who didn’t have gum disease.

If the women had a history of smoking, the risk of breast cancer was even higher.

The study was published online on Dec. 21, 2015 by the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. Read the abstract of “Periodontal Disease and Breast Cancer: Prospective Cohort Study of Postmenopausal Women.” The research is part of the very large Women’s Health Initiative Observational Study, commonly called the WHI. The WHI is looking for links between health, diet, lifestyle, and genetic factors and health problems, such as cancer.

In this study:

  • the researchers monitored 73,737 postmenopausal women in the WHI who had never been diagnosed with breast cancer.
  • About 26% of the women told the researchers they had gum disease.
  • After about 6.5 years, 2,124 women had been diagnosed with breast cancer.
  • Overall, the risk of breast cancer was 14% higher in women who had gum disease compared to women who didn’t have gum disease.
  • So, if average breast cancer risk is about 12%, a woman with gum disease had about a 13.5% risk of breast cancer.

“We thought that periodontal bacteria — either the bacteria themselves or the inflammation that’s part of having periodontal disease — has an effect on other parts of the body, including breast tissue. We know there are bacteria in breast tissue, and we know there are bacteria in mother’s milk. Women who had periodontal disease had a small increase in the risk of breast cancer overall,”

said Jo Freudenheim, Ph.D., distinguished professor of epidemiology and environmental health at the University of Buffalo and lead author of the study.

Does Smoking Have an Effect?

Because earlier studies have shown that the effects of gum disease can be more severe if a person smokes, the researchers also grouped the women by smoking history:

  • Among women who had quit smoking within the last 20 years, women with gum disease had a 36% higher risk of breast cancer than women who didn’t have gum disease.
  • Among women who had never smoked, women with gum disease had a 6% higher risk of breast cancer than women who didn’t have gum disease.
  • Among women who had quit smoking more than 20 years ago, women with gum disease had an 8% higher risk of breast cancer than women who didn’t have gum disease.

“There’s been an explosion of information recently that makes it clear that many different parts of the body that were thought to be sterile contain bacteria and other microbes,” Dr. Freudenheim said. “These bacteria may influence diseases that were previously thought to have no infectious component.”

Gum Disease and Breast Cancer

The researchers said there are several possible reasons for the association between gum disease and breast cancer:

Bacteria in the mouth can get into the bloodstream through tooth brushing, flossing, and chewing. Even though the bacteria are cleared out of the body quickly, the cumulative exposure to tissues can be considerable. It could be that these bacteria affect breast cancer.

Inflammation in one part of the body, such as the gums, may have an impact on other diseases.

Other Factors Increase the Risk

There may be other factors that increase the risk of both gum disease and breast cancer.

“This is a new area, so we have to be careful in how we interpret our findings,” said Dr. Freudenheim. “We can’t say, ‘if you treat periodontal disease it will reduce cancer risk.’ There are new methodologies that allow us to measure things we weren’t able to before. We are now beginning to understand how much the interaction of the microbiome affects our health both in terms of acute infections and chronic diseases.”

Decrease Your Risk for Breast Cancer

Now that you know of the breast cancer oral health link. Doing all that you can do to keep your breast cancer risk as low as it can be makes good sense.

Here are steps you can take to control several risk factors:

  • exercising regularly
  • eating a healthy diet
  • maintaining a healthy weight
  • not smoking
  • avoiding alcohol
  • taking good care of your teeth and gums

Decrease Your Risk for Gum Disease

Decreasing your risk is important because we know about the breast cancer oral health link, where gum disease increases breast cancer risk. According to the Centers for Disease Control, gum disease can be kept in check by:

  • Brushing and flossing your teeth every day to remove the bacteria that cause gum disease
  • Seeing a dentist at least once a year for a checkup, or more frequently if you have any of the warning signs of gum disease:
    • red/swollen gums
    • tender/bleeding gums
    • loose teeth
    • bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth that won’t go way
    • gums that have pulled away from your teeth
    • sensitive teeth

Learn more: Avoid Gum Disease: What You Need to Know

Making a Difference One Dental Exam at a Time

Now you understand why keeping your gums healthy is such an important task – the breast cancer oral health link where gum disease increases breast cancer risk! AND you know what to do to help keep you and your smile in the best possible health and avoid Gum Disease. Why almost half of Americans suffer some form of gum disease, why wait??

Regular dental exams and cleaning is wonderful preventative care. Although you may be brushing and flossing really well at home, tartar and plaque is impossible to remove with regular brushing and flossing, and can build-up over time. Dentists are able to use specific tools to remove that plaque and tartar, keeping our mouth cleaner and our chances of other complications much lower.

When almost half of Americans suffer some form of gum disease, why wait?

Now you understand why keeping your gums healthy is such an important task – they keep your teeth in place! AND you know what to do to help keep you and your smile in the best possible health and avoid Gum Disease.

At GPS Dental, we take your oral health seriously and want to help you avoid gum disease by checking your oral health and every scheduled cleaning. We are also happy to answer any gum disease questions you have. Take the time to be extra diligent in your normal oral health routine to reduce your risk for gum disease.

If you have questions or concerns about your gum health, please give us a call, Dr. Skrobanek and his experienced team at GPS Dental in San Antonio will be happy to schedule your dental appointment and help you keep your gums, teeth and mouth healthy. Please call our office at 210-633-3477 to schedule your dental appointment.

Dr. Gary P. Skrobanek’s experienced and friendly team at GPS Dental offers affordable dental care for all ages in San Antonio, TX area. Our Brooks City Base dentist office is conveniently located and offers early morning appointment times Monday through Friday to meet your needs. At GPS Dental, we promote dental health awareness to our patients and provide most dental services, from family and general dentistry to dental implants, sleep apnea, TMJ / TMD Treatment, cosmetic dentistry and much more. We accept most dental insurance plans and offer affordable financial solutions for any budget. Call us at 210-633-3477 to make an appointment.

The information in this blog has been provided by Breastcancer.org. For more information on breast cancer risk and other steps you can take to minimize your risk, visit the Breastcancer.org Lower Your Risk section.