Research Reveals Bacteria Relations In The Mouth With Pancreas Cancer

Illustration of dental and oral health. (Freepic)

JAKARTA - Unpreserved mouth health can trigger various diseases, one of which is pancreatic cancer. This is reinforced through the latest research conducted by the NYU Langone Health team and the Perlmutter Cancer Center.

The study found that there is a link between more than two dozen types of microbes that reside in the mouth with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer. This condition is one of the deadly diseases in the world.

"Our findings provide new insight into the relationship between oral microbiomes and pancreatic cancer," said study lead author Yixuan Meng, quoted from the New York Post, on Monday, September 22, 2025.

The bacteria ride on saliva swallowed into the pancreas, an organ that has an important role in digestion and regulates blood sugar. In the study, the researchers conducted DNA and fungi analysis in saliva from 122 thousand people.

Monitoring was carried out for approximately nine years, to see if there were cancer developments. Then they compared DNA with 445 pancreatic cancer patients with 445 cancer-free study participants who were randomly selected, and took into account cancer risk factors, such as age, race, and cigarette use.

The team then identified 24 species of bacteria and fungi that could increase or reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer. Meanwhile, three other types of bacteria cause gum disease.

gum disease can release inflammation markers into the bloodstream that can trigger pancreatic cancer. There is also a group of 27 microbes increasing the risk of the development of pancreatic cancer by up to three times.

Thus, the cleanliness of the mouth and teeth must be closely maintained. It is recommended to brush and clean teeth well, such as one of them using dental threads.

"It's clearer than ever that brushing and cleaning teeth with dental threads not only helps prevent periodontal disease, but can also protect against cancer," said senior study author Dr Richard Hayes.