Dental Ailments Boost Risk for Oral Human Papillomavirus

Dental ailments like gum disease may boost the risk of becoming infected with oral human papillomavirus, according to a study released on Wednesday.

The study confirmed that oral human papillomavirus is a type of sexually transmitted disease that causes 40 to 80 percent of all throat cancers.

The study which was published by the Cancer Prevention Research also showed that people who said they had poor oral health had a 56% higher rate of oral HPV infection compared to those who have healthy oral hygiene.

"Oral HPV infection is similar to genital HPV infection in that there are low and high-risk variations. Low-risk oral HPV can spur non-cancerous tumors or warts in the mouth and throat while high risk may lead to cancers of the mouth and throat," said lead author of the study, Christine Markham, associate professor of health promotion and behavioral science at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center in Houston.

Markham further stated "This is a very good reason to take good care of your teeth and your mouth."

"Most people with HPV infections of the throat and mouth have no symptoms and only 'a very small percentage' develop into cancer," according to the American Cancer Society.

According to Businessweek, there is currently no U.S. approved test for oral HPV infection.