Gum disease indicates a higher risk of developing cancer, scientists have found.

Patients with a history of gum disease have been found to have a 14 per cent higher risk of developing any form of tumour. There are two main forms of gum disease: gingivitis – inflammation of the gums and bleeding – and the more advanced periodontal disease, which affects tissues and bone supporting the teeth and can lead them to fall out. The more severe forms of gum disease have already been linked with an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes and stroke. A team at Imperial College London has found an association with cancer. The researchers said it is unknown whether periodontal disease causes cancer or is merely an indicator of an impaired immune system that makes the patient more susceptible to tumours.

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Why are we grinding our teeth so much?

Some dentists are reporting that we are grinding our teeth more, as stress and even fears over the recession grip us. What's wrong with us?

Dentists often call it bruxism. To the layman it is "teethgrinding", although it may only be clenching rather than grinding. A lot of it happens at night, but there can be clenching during the day. Some people may suffer headaches as a result, or shooting pains in their jaw. But many may not realise they are doing it until the dentist spots it. Dentists look for particular patterns of wear, which can involve flaking of the enamel, although in more serious cases the "cusps" at the corners of molars may snap off, or they may be a total fracture of a tooth.

» Click here to read the complete article on BBC News