Oral hygiene and ONJ: a proposal of protocol

Abstract

Oral hygiene seems to be crucial to minimise their risk of ONJ. Oral hygiene was suggested as effective ONJ prevention in the literature. Attention regarding brushing, interdental cleaning and other oral hygiene techniques has been stressed. Furthermore, the prescription of high fluoride toothpaste for those patients with increased caries risk has been suggested. Oral hygiene habits may also play an important role, thus creating a potential bias in oral health studies. However, there does not seem to be plenty of studies in the literature explaining a precise protocol about a professional oral hygiene program that could be applied to cancer patients that are at risk for developing ONJ. Therefore, the aim of the present communication was to present and discuss our protocol for the management of oral hygiene in cancer patients that are going to start an antiresorptive therapy or that have already started it, in order to lower the risk for ONJ.