Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41840681›Full record

SynthesisOral diseases2026

Investigating the Association Between Oral Hygiene and Oral Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Lorena C Mariano, Saman Warnakulasuriya, Beatrice Lauby-Secretan, Luis Monteiro

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Oral diseases, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Lorena C MarianoUNIPRO, Oral Pathology and Rehabilitation Research Unit, University Institute of Health Sciences (IUCS-CESPU), Gandra, Portugal.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5908-1437
Saman WarnakulasuriyaFaculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, King's College London, WHO Collaborating Centre for Oral Cancer, London, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2103-0746
Beatrice Lauby-SecretanEvidence Synthesis and Classification Section, International Agency for Research Cancer, Lyon, France.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6559-3351
Luis MonteiroUNIPRO, Oral Pathology and Rehabilitation Research Unit, University Institute of Health Sciences (IUCS-CESPU), Gandra, Portugal.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8938-1297

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveWe aim to investigate the association between oral hygiene habits, including frequency of toothbrushing and regularity of dental check-ups, and oral cancer risk. MATERIALS AND

methodsA systematic review and meta-analysis was developed following the PRISMA and the MOOSE guidelines. We searched electronic databases until 4th December 2024 (CRD42021242709).

resultsA total of 15 studies were included. Overall, the results indicated that poor oral hygiene habits are potential risk factors for oral cancer. Compared to brushing once/day or more, toothbrushing < 1/day or never significantly increased the risk for oral cancer, with an OR of 1.85 (95% CI, 1.06-3.22). Toothbrushing < 2/day compared with ≥ 2/day also showed a positive association with oral cancer risk, with an OR of 1.32 (95% CI, 1.17-1.48). Irregular dental check-ups, defined as less than once a year or never, also significantly increased oral cancer risk (OR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.29-1.92).

conclusionInfrequent toothbrushing and irregular dental check-ups are risk factors for oral cancer. Toothbrushing twice or more daily and visiting a dentist once a year could be recommended to reduce oral cancer risk. The study reinforces the importance of good oral health as a preventive measure in the control of oral cancer.

Indexed as

Mouth NeoplasmsOral HygieneHumansRisk FactorsToothbrushingcancer riskdental check‐upsepidemiology and preventionoral canceroral hygienetoothbrushing

Identifiers

PMID41840681
PMCPMC13365015

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.