Importance of oral hygiene in the quality of life and recovery of hospitalized patients: an integrative literature Review

Aim: oral health is essential for overall well-being, particularly in hospitalized patients with compromised systemic conditions. Poor oral hygiene is associated with the worsening of clinical conditions, such as hospital-acquired pneumonia, and negatively impacts recovery and quality of life. Objective: To conduct an integrative literature review on the oral health of hospitalized patients, focusing on the identification of care practices, clinical conditions, associated factors, and intervention strategies. Methodology: an integrative literature review was conducted following six steps, from defining the research question to the analysis and synthesis of data from articles selected according to rigorous inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: the search carried out in Portuguese and English initially identified 252 articles, of which 120 were excluded for not being related to the topic, 41 were duplicates, and 39 were discarded after abstract screening, leaving 52 articles. To focus on recent studies, literature reviews were excluded, and only articles published between 2020 and 2025 were selected. Thus, 24 studies met the criteria and were included in the final analysis. Conclusion: oral hygiene is essential for the quality of life and recovery of hospitalized patients, as it helps prevent systemic infections commonly found in elderly, surgical, and ICU patients. The promotion of self-care strengthens autonomy, self-esteem, and functional capacity during hospitalization. The integration of dentists into multidisciplinary teams and the implementation of oral hygiene protocols are fundamental to reducing complications and improving clinical outcomes. Therefore, attention to oral health must be a priority in hospital care, ensuring comprehensive and humanized treatment.