By Zesha Saleem

Copyright dailystar

According to a study, poor oral hygiene could make you three times as likely to develop pancreatic cancer . For several years, experts have believed that those with harmful bacteria and fungi in their mouths are more vulnerable to several diseases, including cancer. Now, scientists from NYU School of Medicine, have discovered which bacteria could increase the risk of such diseases, and believe that the pesky bugs in the mouth could make their way to the pancreas. Writing in the journal JAMA Oncology , Dr Richard Hayes, an expert in population health and study co-author, said: “It is clearer than ever that brushing and flossing your teeth may not only help prevent periodontal disease but may also protect against cancer.” Scientists have a particular interest in the oral microbiome and the role it could play in developing diseases. This is the varied bacteria and fungi that all live in the mouth. In this particular study, researchers found for the first time that a type of yeast called candida could play a role in pancreatic cancer. It was the biggest study of its sort, where researchers examined data from two ongoing investigations tracking 900 American participants to better understand how lifestyle factors, such as smoking, and medical history are involved in cancer development. At the start of the research programme, the subjects from the American Cancer Society Cancer Prevention Study II and the Prostate, Lung Colorectal and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial rinsed with mouthwash and handed over saliva samples. Then, for the next nine years, they were followed to detect any presence of cancerous tumours. The researchers then compared the bacterial and fungal DNA from saliva samples of 445 pancreatic cancer patients to that of another 445 randomly selected cancer-free participants, the Daily Mail reports. After putting several factors known to increase the risk of pancreatic cancer to one side, experts found a total of 24 species of bacteria and fungi that either increased or cut the risk of developing pancreatic cancer. Another three types were already known to cause a horrible gun infection known as periodontal disease. Professor Jiyoung Ahn, study co-author, said: “By profiling bacterial and fungal populations in the mouth, oncologists may be able to flag those most in need of pancreatic cancer screening.” It’s important to note that their findings didn’t find a a direct cause-and-effect link, but rather a correlation between cancer risk and certain microbes in the mouth. According to the NHS website, pancreatic cancer is “found anywhere in the pancreas.” It reads: “The pancreas is an organ in the top part of your tummy. It helps you digest your food and makes hormones, such as insulin. How serious pancreatic cancer is depends on where it is in the pancreas, how big it is, if it has spread and your general health.” There are a wide variety of symptoms that could point to pancreatic cancer, such as stomach pain, back pain, indigestion and unexpected weight loss , according to charity Pancreatic Cancer UK. However, there are many causes for these symptoms, so it is important to see your doctor if you have any health worries. For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters .