POOR ORAL HYGIENE: RISK FACTORS RESULTING FROM CHANGES IN THE ORAL MICROBIOTA (Atena Editora)

Abstract

Introduction: Changes in the oral microbiota, as a result of poor hygiene, can lead to local and systemic problems which can lead to a reduction in the patient's quality of life. In this sense, this systematic literature review aims to understand how risk factors intensify this problem. Method: A systematic review of the databases was carried out: google academic, pubmed and virtual health library (VHL). The key words used were “oral health”, “oral hygiene”, “immunology”, “microbiota” and “periodontal diseases” to select the 13 articles analyzed. Discussion: Oral health is important to promote quality of life for the individual and its deficiency causes negative changes in different spheres of the individual's life, as well as predisposing systemic diseases with the potential to cause impairment of general functions and death. Therefore, it is valid to understand the determining processes in periodontal health and disease and analyze modifiable/avoidable risk factors such as smoking, chronic emotional stress, the impact of the pandemic resulting from Covid-19, the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and use of legal and illegal substances. Conclusion: Given the analyzes carried out on the aforementioned risk factors, they appear to be determinants for the intensification of the health-disease process due to their potential to damage the oral microbiota and harm periodontal health. Furthermore, when altered, it has the capacity to cause negative effects on the individual's life. This way, maintaining periodontal health is a mechanism for promoting quality of life.