Introduction: The primary risk factors to which Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma is associated are related with tobacco and alcohol habits. Inflammation is an important risk factor in the development of cancer, induced, perhaps because of the cumulus of bacteria that is reflected in dental plaque and posterior calculus to a poor oral hygiene. Objective: The purpose of this study was to associate poor oral hygiene as a risk factor for Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Material y methods: Case-control study in which the simplified index of oral hygiene to develop dental plaque and dental calculus was used as a measurement instrument. Tobacco and alcohol habits were registered. The risk was estimated obtaining odds ratio and the statistical significance was taken through χ2. Results: Poor oral hygiene with high levels of dental plaque were identified as a risk to the presence of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma, the known risk factors (tobacco and alcohol) were also identified in our population, however the risk was lower in contrast to poor oral hygiene. Conclusion: Poor oral hygiene is a significant risk factor that contributes to the presence of oral cancer and can be bigger in comparison with tobacco and alcohol use.

Los principales factores de riesgo con los que se asocia el carcinoma oral de células escamosas son el hábito de tabaco y alcohol. La inflamación también es un factor de riesgo importante en el desarrollo del cáncer, ésta posiblemente inducida por el acúmulo de bacterias que se refleja en la placa bacteriana (biofilm microbiano) y posterior cálculo dental debido a una higiene oral deficiente