title: Oral health, hygiene practices and oral cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the association between oral health and hygiene practices and oral cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hospital-based case-control study in the metropolitan area of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil, from 1998 to 2002. A total 309 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the mouth and the pharynx and 468 controls matched by sex and age were included in the study. Cases were recruited in seven reference hospitals and controls were selected in five out of the seven participating hospitals. Detailed information on smoking, alcohol consumption, schooling, oral health status and hygiene practices were obtained through interviews. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI), adjusted by sex, age, schooling, smoking, alcohol consumption as well as the variables oral health status and hygiene practices were estimated using unconditional logistic regression analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The use of complete dental prosthesis was not associated with oral cancer but regular gum bleeding showed a strong association (OR 3.1; 95% CI 1.2-7.9). Those who never attended a dental visit were more likely to have oral cancer (OR 2.5; 95% CI 1.3-4.8). Daily mouthwash use showed a stronger association to pharynx (OR 4.7; 95% CI 1.8-12.5) than mouth cancer (OR 3.2; 95% CI 1.6-6.3).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gum bleeding, no dental care, and daily mouthwash use were factors associated with oral cancer regardless of tobacco and alcohol consumption.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Epidemiologia, Faculdade de Saúde Pública, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luzia A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Eluf-Neto
authors.forename: Rejane A O
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Figueiredo
authors.forename: José F de
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Góis-Filho
authors.forename: Luiz P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Kowalski
authors.forename: Marcos B de
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: Márcio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abrahão
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Wünsch-Filho
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009909:Oral Health; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010610:Pharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014505:Urban Population