How the infection in your mouth can make its way to your breasts.

Wellness Wednesday - How the infection in your mouth can make its way to your breasts.
It is well established that microbes enter your bloodstream when you chew, brush and/or floss your teeth. The American Heart Association recommends that patients with certain health conditions take antibiotics before dental procedures to help reduce the risk of infective endocarditis (a potentially fatal infection of the heart).
But what about all of the microbial populations that make their way into your lymphatic drainage system? Do they always follow a direct path into vascular circulation? Or is it possible for lymph vessels to become stagnant, dysfunctional and potentially back-flow their contents in any direction?
An article in the journal “Cancers” investigated this very issue in 2020 (PMID: 32824219). Their conclusion was: “Pathological changes (can occur) during the development of cancer-related lymphedema. In a healthy lymphatic vasculature, valves prevent the retrograde flow of lymph, ensuring its efficient transport from the lymphatic capillaries to the lymph node. Following surgical intervention as part of cancer therapy, some patients will develop cancer-related lymphedema. Lymph node removal surgery reduces the flow of lymph through the lymphatic vasculature. Over time, however, collecting lymphatic vessels exhibit increased inflammation, thickened basement membrane, increased smooth muscle cell coverage, and dilation. Reduced lymph flow results in reduced VE-cadherin-dependent mechanotransduction signaling that reduces the expression of transcription factors required for valve maintenance, leading to valve regression. Consequently, lymph flow moves in the retrograde direction and fluid is no longer transported out of the tissue, resulting in lymphedema and fibrosis.”
If you are being treated for cancer and having lymph nodes removed, please know that any infection in your mouth (i.e. - gum infection, root canals, chronic bone infections) will make your health situation much worse. Please feel welcome to reach out to BDC for help. Working with a team that understands the complexities and nuances of this kind of care is paramount to your health recovery!
Reach out to us through our website to learn about our dental tourism solutions and to schedule your New Patient Experience.
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