Objectives The global burden of stroke is increasing every year. Residual impairments
from stroke reduce the future independence of affected patients while also increasing
their susceptibility to oral health-related diseases. Oral healthcare prevention programs
(OHCP) are vital in maintaining acceptable oral hygiene during rehabilitation. Dysphagia
among stroke elevates the risk of ingesting oral opportunistic pathogens, potentially
leading to severe conditions. Data Sources A systematic search was conducted in three
main databases (Medline, EMBASE, CENTRAL) until November 29th, 2022. Study selection
We included randomized clinical trials that measure the effect of OHCP on oral health
and oral opportunistic pathogens. After the systematic search (7608 articles), we
conducted title/abstract selection by two independent authors, followed by full-text
selection. In both cases, Cohen's kappa was calculated. Finally, we found 15 articles
that were eligible for analysis. Results The plaque index showed a slight but non-significant
reduction with the OHCP program (SMD= -2.77, CI:-6.6-1.06). In terms of the risk of
oral yeast detection, there was a statistically non-significant difference between
the intervention and control groups at short-term and after a 3-month follow-up (RR:
1.06, 95% CI: 0.20;5.69; RR:0.98 CI: 0.33; 2.93), respectively. For S.aureus and AGNB,
there was no statistically significant difference in short-term evaluation (RR: 0.89
CI: 0.07; 11.99; RR:0.77 CI: 0.00; 888.18), respectively. Conclusions Current evidence
did not identify that regular OHCP had a beneficial effect on oral pathogen-related
diseases. Prospero registration CRD42022346788 Clinical Significance Regular oral
health care, including assistance from a dental hygienist in stroke units, is essential
for preventing oral health-related diseases. Integrating into post-stroke rehabilitation
can enhance overall quality of life and well-being.
