Abstract
Oral cancer is a multifactorial disease resulting from changes in the DNA of cells present in the oral cavity, altering their natural structure and consequently causing a mutation in the Deoxyribonucleic Acid chain. Several extrinsic factors can cause oxidation of the DNA chain, such as smoking, alcoholism, human papillomavirus (HPV) virus infection, and a diet poor in antioxidants present in fruits and vegetables in general. The association of more than one factor can further increase the chances of developing this pathology. The objective of this study was to search the literature for articles that report an association between harmful habits, such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and HPV virus infection, with the risk of developing oral cancer. The articles used were extracted from online databases, such as PubMed, Scielo, and Google Scholar to gather research on the topic in question.