Bacteria in oral carcinogenesis

Cancer is a subject that has got enormous depth and we clinicians are still searching for the end point. The multi centric etiopathogenesis of cancer makes it a field of enormous research. Bacteria meanwhile have been seen to cause or acts as an aggravating stimuli in different cancers of the body including the oro-facial region. Bacteria induce carcinogenesis via chronic inflammation, directly or indirectly via interference, may be by metabolism of potentially carcinogenic substances like acetaldehyde causing mutagenesis. The routes are many but still needs lot of research. This review article deals with the basic knowledge of carcinogenesis caused by bacteria in oro-facial region.