Oral care and the use of fluoride in the prevention of radiation-related caries: A scoping review

Abstract

Objective: This scoping review aimed to map the literature on oral hygiene protocols and fluoride use in patients undergoing radiotherapy.

Study design: A comprehensive search was performed in 10 databases, including part of the "gray literature." Clinical trials and observational studies that used radiotherapy in the head and neck region and evaluated the occurrence of radiation-related caries (RRC) were included.

Results: Twenty-one studies were included in the review. The studies generally presented different methods of oral care and fluoride use. Several studies have shown promising results for oral care instructions in preventing RRC. The main strategies found in the articles were oral hygiene instructions, professional teeth cleaning, recommendations for the use of fluoride toothpaste, and monthly follow-ups. Fluoride gel was the most commonly used fluoride product (72%). Its main recommendation for use was at least 5 min at night daily. Most of these studies (60%) used custom-made trays. Other fluoride methods were fluoride varnish, mouthrinses, and high-fluoride-containing toothpaste.

Conclusion: Oral care, such as hygiene instructions with regular dental follow-up and daily fluoride, seem to be promising strategies for preventing RRC. Periodically monitoring these patients is one of the most important strategies.