Chronic periodontitis as a risk factor for breast cancer: An update

Abstract

Breast cancer is the second-most common malignancy affecting one in every eight women worldwide. Common risk factors for breast cancer include endogenous hormone levels, immune factors, genetic susceptibility, lifestyle, chronic infection, and inflammation. Periodontitis is a chronic infecto-inflammatory disease of tooth-supporting tissues which, if not treated, ultimately results in loss of the tooth. It is a well-known fact that the inflammatory component present in periodontitis can be involved in the initiation or progression of many systemic diseases, including cancer. There is less evidence to confirm the fact that periodontitis can also lead to breast cancer also. This evidence-based short review presents a brief note on the mechanisms of links between chronic periodontitis and breast cancer.