Aims: This study aimed to resume the available evidence about the relationship between oral care practices and conditions in patients hospitalized in intensive unit care. Methods: papers published from 1976 to 2014 indexed in the databases Pubmed, Scopus, BBO and LILACS were assessed with the combination of the the following Medical Subject Headings (Mesh) key words : pneumonia, sepsis, intensive care, intensive care unit, critical illness, pneumonia ventilator associated, systemic inflammation response syndrome, critical care, stomatognathic diseases, mouth diseases, oral health, oral hygiene, oral sprays, oral manifestations, oral decontamination, dental focal infection, oral ulcer and oral pathology . From 352 studies, 29 were eligible and ordered according to the hierarchical strength of evidence, from the strongest level to the weakest evidence, in accordance with the principles of evidence-based dentistry, that rates studies using Oxford Centre for evidence-based Medicine (OCEBM) approach which classify studies using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADING). Conclusion and authors key points:
· The mouth is a reservoir of pathogens.
· Oral decontamination is an important procedure for the patient hospitalized in ICU.
· More studies on the initial oral conditions of patients admitted to ICUs are required
· There are few studies about cost benefit of the dentist's inclusion in the multidisciplinary team of UTIs.
