Poor oral health affects survival in head and neck cancer

Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC) contributes substantially to the global burden of cancer [1–3]. It is the sixth most common cancer worldwide [4], and the fifth most common cancer in the United States, affecting approximately 40,000 new patients each year [1]. It encompasses cancers of the oral cavity, oropharynx, and larynx among others. While the mortality rate for HNSCC has improved recently, it still has poorer survival rates than some other common malignancies such as breast, cervical, and colorectal cancers [5,6].

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