Diet and prevention of oral cancer: strategies for clinical practice.
View Full Publication On Pub Med
Chainani-Wu N, Epstein J, Touger-Decker R.
Source: Department of Orofacial Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of California, San Francisco, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Oral health care professionals can play an important role in preventing oral cancer by performing oral mucosal examinations to detect pre-cancerous changes and by educating patients about oral cancer prevention strategies, including dietary approaches.
CONCLUSIONS: Current evidence supports a diet high in fruits, vegetables and plant-based foods for prevention of oral cancer. Dietary supplements-including vitamins and minerals-have not been shown to be effective as substitutes for a diet high in fruits and vegetables.
CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: In addition to discussing tobacco and alcohol use with patients (and, if relevant, betel nut and gutka consumption), as well as the risk of sexual transmission of human papillo-mavirus, clinicians should provide dietary advice for the prevention of oral cancer as part of routine patient education practices.
