목적: Several studies have suggested that some inflammatory cytokines affect a prognosis and lymph node metastasis of oral cavity cancer. The release of these molecules may depends on oral hygiene status. The aim of the present study was to evaluate a relationship between oral hygiene status and prognosis of oral cavity cancer. 방법:We reviewed the medical records of 113 patients with histologically confirmed oral cavity cancer. Preoperative panorama view was used to evaluate the oral hygiene index (OHI) and status. Therefore, we analyzed the overall survival and locoregional control rate and performed bivariate correlation analyses with OHI and nodal involvement. 결과:37 patients (32.7%) were T3/T4 stage, 64 (56.6%) had nodal metastasis, 39 patients (34.5%) died and 34 (30.1%) had shown the recurrence during the follow-up period. Enrolled patients were divided into two groups according to OHI (1,2 vs 3,4). High OHI was positively correlated with a tendency of nodal metastasis (p=0.081). OHI did not affect either the number of metastatic nodes nor overall survival rate. 결론:Poor oral hygiene can be a predictor of nodal involvement but it did not show stastistical significance. Further studies which related with oral hygiene and other prognostic variables in oral cavity cancer is needed.