A groundbreaking study from NYU Langone Health has uncovered a startling link between the microbes living in our mouths and one of the deadliest cancers out there: pancreatic cancer. Researchers found that 27 specific species of bacteria and fungi—the kind that quietly thrive in our saliva—can increase the risk of pancreatic cancer by 3.5 times. That’s not a typo. It’s a wake-up call.

Your mouth might be telling a story your doctor hasn’t heard yet—and it could be about cancer. Gemini



For years, scientists suspected that poor oral health might be connected to pancreatic cancer, but the details were fuzzy. Now, thanks to a massive analysis of saliva samples from over 122,000 healthy Americans, we have a clearer picture. These samples came from participants in two long-term studies—the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Prevention Study II and the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial. Researchers followed these individuals for nearly a decade, tracking who developed tumors and who didn’t.

The team zeroed in on 445 people who were later diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and compared their oral microbiomes—the mix of bacteria and fungi in their mouths—with those of 445 cancer-free individuals. What they found was unsettling: a cluster of microbes, including Candida, a common yeast, appeared not only in the mouth but also in the tumors themselves.

So how do these microbes get from your mouth to your pancreas? It’s simpler than you’d think. When you swallow saliva, you’re sending whatever’s in it—good or bad—down into your digestive system. Some bacteria may hitch a ride and settle in the pancreas, an organ that helps digest food and regulate blood sugar. If the wrong microbes take root, they might trigger inflammation or other changes that pave the way for cancer.

Dr. Yixuan Meng, the study’s lead author, calls this “new insight into the relationship between the oral microbiome and pancreatic cancer.” And it’s not just bacteria—fungi are part of the story too. This is the first time oral fungi have been implicated in pancreatic cancer, and it’s a big deal.

The implications go far beyond the lab. Pancreatic cancer is notoriously hard to detect early, and it has one of the lowest survival rates of any major cancer—just 8% of patients live more than five years after diagnosis. That’s why this discovery matters now. If doctors can use oral microbiome profiles to flag high-risk individuals, we might finally have a tool for early screening.

Dr. Jiyoung Ahn, a senior author on the study, believes this could change how we approach cancer prevention. “By profiling bacterial and fungal populations in the mouth, oncologists may be able to flag those most in need of pancreatic cancer screening,” she said.

And here’s the part that hits home: brushing and flossing your teeth might do more than protect your gums. It could help protect your pancreas. Dr. Richard Hayes, another senior author, puts it plainly: “It is clearer than ever that brushing and flossing your teeth may not only help prevent periodontal disease but may also protect against cancer”.

Of course, this study doesn’t prove that these microbes directly cause cancer—it shows a strong correlation, not causation. But it’s a powerful clue. The researchers are already planning their next steps: exploring whether oral viruses play a role and whether the microbiome affects survival odds for those already diagnosed.

In a world where cancer often feels random and unstoppable, this research offers something rare—a sense of control. It suggests that what’s happening in your mouth could be a window into your future health. And that’s a story worth listening to.

As scientists dig deeper into the oral microbiome, we may see new screening tools, personalized risk assessments, and even treatments that target harmful microbes before cancer has a chance to grow.

Source: New Atlas