Oral hygiene habits are risk factors of oral cavity cancer: a short communication

Poor oral hygiene is a well-established risk factor for oral cavity cancer. However, the specific association between oral hygiene practices and oral cancer risk remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between oral hygiene habits and the risk of oral cavity cancer. A case-control study was conducted involving 231 participants: 94 oral cavity cancer patients (case group) and 137 controls with other head and neck cancers. Oral health status was assessed using the Revised Oral Assessment Guide - Jönköping (ROAG-J), and a structured questionnaire was used to collect data on oral hygiene practices and lifestyle factors. The case group exhibited poorer oral hygiene practices, including lower rates of toothbrushing (68.1 vs. 90.5%) and food debris removal (38.3 vs. 63.5%), higher rates of smoking (66 vs. 11.7%) and alcohol consumption (58.5 vs. 14.6%), and poorer oral health (ROAG-J grade 2 or 3: 94.7 vs. 40.2%) compared with the control group. Multivariable logistic regression model has three independent risk factors for oral cavity cancer: smoking [odds ratio (OR): 9.77, 95% confidence interval (CI): 4.21-22.61], alcohol consumption (OR: 3.47, 95% CI: 1.48-8.10), and the presence of chronic diseases (OR: 2.90, 95% CI: 1.37-6.12), whereas food debris removal (OR: 0.25, 95% CI: 0.12-0.51) was a protective factor. Our findings highlight the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene practices in preventing oral cavity cancer. Future studies with larger sample sizes and collection of potential confounding factors are needed to confirm our findings.