The higher the gingivitis index, the risk of breast cancer ↑…You need to prevent gum disease by brushing your teeth properly
Oct 16, 2025
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According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare '2022 National Cancer Registration Statistics', breast cancer patients accounted for the largest number of new female cancer patients with 29,391, or about 21.8% of all new female cancer patients. In addition, the number of female breast cancer-related medical personnel last year increased by 95.7% compared to 2015, including the number of new cases. In particular, breast cancer continues to increase in young people under their 40s compared to other carcinomas such as colon cancer, lung cancer, and stomach cancer.
Breast cancer is a malignant tumor that occurs mainly in breast tissue such as the duct or lobules. Cancer cells spread to bones, lungs, liver, and brain along the bloodstream and lymphatic vessels, causing various complications. Well-known risk factors include lifestyle habits such as female hormones, genetic factors, and dietary habits, and recent studies have reported statistically significant associations between gum disease and breast cancer.
A recent study published in the international journal Scientific Reports reported that the higher the gingivitis index, the greater the risk of breast cancer. The research team analyzed the gingivitis index and various breast cancer risk factors in women, suggesting that the gingivitis index is likely to act as an independent risk factor even after correcting body mass index, family history, and hormonal factors.
In the end, gum disease can affect general health beyond the oral cavity. For a healthy life, efforts are needed to prevent gum disease with proper brushing habits and regular oral care.
Plags usually accumulate in the interdental and gum lines and cause inflammation, so you should be especially careful when brushing your teeth. The Korean Oral Health Association recommends 'the standard gum brushing method (modified bath method)' as an effective way to prevent gum disease. This method is to hold the toothbrush lightly like holding a pencil, attach the toothbrush cap to the gum line at a 45-degree angle, vibrate finely 5 to 10 times in place, and then use your wrist to sweep the toothbrush from the gum to the teeth.
When practicing the standard gum brushing method, 'force control' is important. This is because brushing your teeth with excessive force can damage your gums. If it is difficult to control the force with a manual toothbrush, a sonic electric toothbrush can be an effective alternative. Air bubbles generated by fine sonic vibrations gently clean the interdental and gum lines, reducing the risk of gum damage caused by excessive pressure.
A clinical study by Philips Sonicare found that sonic electric toothbrushes have a better effect on improving gum health than manual toothbrushes. In the cohort using Phillips Sonicare '9900 Prestige', gingivitis decreased by 29.99%, gum bleeding by 74.08%, and plaque by 28.66%.
The basis of preventing gum disease is to make proper brushing habits a part of daily life. '0-1-2-3 Brushing habits' contains simple but effective principles. When brushing your teeth, you should adjust your strength without difficulty in your gums, and it is recommended to start brushing your teeth as soon as possible and within a minute at the latest after eating. In addition, it is necessary to take at least two minutes to clean thoroughly around the interdental and gum lines. Based on three meals, keeping the habit of brushing your teeth more than three times a day can further increase the effectiveness of preventing gum disease.
Park Yong-deok, chairman of the Korean Oral Health Association, said "Gum disease is an indicator of general health, and prevention is as important as timely treatment.""It is important for postmenopausal women, especially vulnerable to various diseases due to hormonal changes, to keep their gums healthy through proper brushing habits, which can have a positive effect on overall general health."," he stressed.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
