Smoking & cancer cocktail

Latest research has revealed that smoking converts healthy saliva into a deadly chemical cocktail.

Latest research has revealed that smoking converts healthy saliva into a deadly chemical cocktail that increases the risk of mouth cancer.

There are nearly 8,000 new cases of mouth cancer and 3,000 deaths each year in Britain and the causes of the disease are mostly smoking or drinking alcohol.

Saliva is the body's first line of defence against cancer as it provides a protective buffer between toxins and the lining of the mouth.

"Most people will find it very shocking that the mixture of saliva and smoke is actually more lethal to cells in the mouth than cigarette smoke alone," the Telegraph quoted Dr Rafi Nagler, of the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology and lead author of the study, as saying.

"Our study shows that once exposed to cigarette smoke, our normally healthy saliva not only loses its beneficial qualities, but it turns traitor and actually aids in destroying cells of the mouth and oral cavity. Cigarette smoke is not only damaging on its own, it can turn the body against itself," added Nagler.

The researchers found that that tobacco smoke destroys protective anti-oxidant compounds in saliva, leaving a corrosive mix that damages cells and increases the risk of mouth cancer.

In fact, the longer that mouth cells are exposed to saliva contaminated with tobacco smoke, the more damage is done to cells.