NUTRITION Diet and prevention of oral cancer Strategies for clinical practice

Background. Oral health care professionals can play an important role in preventing oral cancer by performing oral mucosal examinations to detect precancerous 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 papillomavirus, clinicians should provide dietary advice for the prevention of oral cancer as part of routine patient education practices.