Oral hygiene and cancer risk: emerging evidence and public health perspectives

Oral hygiene, traditionally regarded as a pillar of dental care, is increasingly recognized for its broader relevance to systemic health, including cancer prevention. Accumulating evidence suggests that poor oral hygiene may contribute to carcinogenesis through pathways involving chronic inflammation, microbial dysbiosis, and immune dysregulation. This review synthesizes epidemiological studies linking indicators of poor oral health—such as periodontal disease and tooth loss—to elevated risks of head and neck, gastrointestinal, and other cancers. It also explores biological mechanisms that plausibly connect the oral environment to systemic oncogenesis. Integrating oral health promotion into lifestyle medicine frameworks and national public health strategies presents an opportunity for low-cost, scalable interventions to mitigate cancer burden, particularly in underserved populations. Future priorities include longitudinal research to strengthen causal inference, biomarker discovery for early detection, and policy initiatives embedding oral health within comprehensive disease prevention models. Recognizing oral hygiene as an integral component of systemic health may foster more holistic and equitable approaches to cancer prevention worldwide.