Examining the Association between Oral Health and Oral HPV Infection

Abstract

Oral human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the cause of 40% to 80% of oropharyngeal cancers; yet, no published study has examined the role of oral health in oral HPV infection, either independently or in conjunction with other risk factors. This study examined the relation between oral health and oral HPV infection and the interactive effects of oral health, smoking, and oral sex on oral HPV infection. Our analyses comprised 3,439 participants ages 30 to 69 years for whom data on oral HPV and oral health were available from the nationally representative 2009-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Results showed that higher unadjusted prevalence of oral HPV infection was associated with four measures of oral health, including self-rated oral health as poor-to-fair [prevalence ratio (PR) ¼ 1.56; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.25-1.95], indicated the possibility of gum disease (PR ¼ 1.51; 95% CI, 1.13-2.01), reported use of mouthwash to treat dental problems in the past week (PR ¼ 1.28; 95% CI, 1.07-1.52), and higher number of teeth lost (P trend ¼ 0.035). In multivariable logistic regression models, oral HPV infection had a statistically significant association with self-rated overall oral health (OR ¼ 1.55; 95% CI, 1.15-2.09), independent of smoking and oral sex. In conclusion, poor oral health was an independent risk factor of oral HPV infection, irrespective of smoking and oral sex practices. Public health interventions may aim to promote oral hygiene and oral health as an additional measure to prevent HPV-related oral cancers. Cancer Prev Res; 6(9); 917-24. Ó2013 AACR.

Oral Human Papillomavirus Infection and Its Risk Factors among 5,410 Healthy Adults in China, 2009–2011

“…Few studies have examined this association, except one recently published study conducted in the United States (14). Using data from a nationally representative sample, the study demonstrated that self-reported poor oral health was an independent predictor of oral a mucosal HPV infection.…”

“…Only a few large studies have been conducted, mainly in the United Sates. The reported prevalence of oral HPV infection in these studies has ranged from approximately 2% to 8%, and HPV 16 is the type most commonly identified (11)(12)(13)(14)(15). Relevant risk factors have included male gender, oral sex, higher numbers of lifetime sexual partners, tobacco use, poor oral health, and cervical HPV infection (11)(12)(13)(14)(15).…”

HPV and cancer of the oral cavity

“…[23][24][25][26][27][28] Notably, the prevalence of HPV seems to be significantly higher in men than in women. [25][26][27]29 Furthermore, high-risk sexual behavior including oral-genital sex has been found to be associated with transmission of HPV infections between oral and genital sites. 26,30,31 Immunodeficiency (e.g.…”

Human Papilloma Virus in Oral Cavity Cancer and Relation to Change in Quality of Life Following Treatment—a Pilot Study from Northern India

“…A specific role was hypothesized way back in 1983, but till date, a definite consensus still awaits the light of the day [6][7][8]. The healthy adult population has showed prevalence for any HPV type of 2-8 % in OCSCC [9][10][11][12][13][14] with a higher preponderance for male sex worldwide [11][12][13]15] whereas previous Indian studies have reported a wide variation in HPV positivity prevalence from northeastern, eastern, and southern different regions of the country [16][17][18][19][20]. Further high-risk sexual behavior including oral genital sex and multiple sexual partners has been found to be associated with HPV transmission [12,21,22].…”