Can Poor Dental Health Give You an STD?

 -
According to a study published in Cancer Prevention Research, bad dental health (i.e. gum disease, tooth loss, etc.) has been linked to the human papillomavirus (HPV) which is a STD transmitted via oral sex. HPV is spread through sexual contact and is usually associated with cervical cancer in women.

Both the number of sexual partners a person has throughout their lifetime, along with their age at sexual debut, has been associated with sexually-transmitted HPV. As the majority of HPV cases are seen in younger people, there has been a dramatic fall in the age of the average mouth cancer sufferer.

The More The Not Merrier 
The report also found those who said they had poor dental health were twice as likely to have had multiple HPV infections. Of more concern, though, is the link between HPV and mouth cancer with experts in the UK suggesting that one in five mouth cancer cases will likely be a result of the HPV infection.

"The research suggests keeping this infection at bay is relatively simple", says Dr. Nigel Carter OBE, Chief Executive of the British Dental Health Foundation. "The HPV infection is very common and is a major reason mouth cancer cases have soared over the last 30 years. Our knowledge of HPV remains relatively low, which suggests there is not enough awareness of the risks we take with multiple sexual partners."

Who Was Surveyed 
The authors of the study identified 3,439 people aged 30-69 years from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) for whom data was available on oral health and the presence or absence of 19 low-risk HPV types and 18 high-risk HPV types in the oral cavity were available.

Should You See a Dentist Twice a Year? Maybe Not

.
The Journal of Dental Research just recently published the results of the study which found that seeing your dentist twice a year isn't the end-all and be-all of good dental health for adults. Consequently, dental patients are urged to develop a individualized dental care program with the dentist.

The study was performed by reseachers at the University of Michigan. They found there were preventative benefits for high risk patients that visited the dentist more than once a year. Wolff said if your doctor tells you to return for a check-up in six months, do not be afraid to ask why.

"It (the study) actually affirms the concept of recare or revisiting your dentist based upon your risk," said Dr. Mark Wolff, Chairman of the NYU Dentistry Cariology and Comprehensive Care. "If you are not at risk of developing a gum disease or tooth decay, than you may only need to see a dentist once per year. However, that is not a generic rule for everyone."
 
Dr. Wolf went on to say that what support is for adults take control of their own dental health as unlike other areas of healthcare there is little if any incentive for dental insurers and providers to focus on preventative care.

The key is to be in control of your own dental health, because unlike other areas of health care there are few incentives for insurers and providers to focus on preventative dental care.

"If you have an abscess on your foot, that's covered under the Affordable Care Act, if you have an abscess on your tooth it may not be. Teeth one through 32 have been carved out of that whole system," explained Dr. Wolff.

Responding to the report's findings, the ADA (American Dental Association) has suggested that American adults work with their dentists to develop a individualized dental care plan. However, the ADA still recommends that children 12 and under still see a dentist twice a year.
.