APPROACHES TO ORAL HEALTH OF NEONATES IN INTENSIVE CARE UNITS ENFOQUES DE LA SALUD BUCAL DE LOS NEONATOS EN UNIDADES DE CUIDADOS INTENSIVOS

Abstract

Oral hygiene in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) is an essential practice for preventing infections and promoting the well-being of newborns, especially those undergoing mechanical ventilation. This study aimed to identify, through an integrative literature review, the main approaches used to promote oral health in neonates hospitalized in NICUs. The search was conducted in the SciELO, PubMed, LILACS, and Google Scholar databases, using controlled descriptors combined with Boolean operators. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, resulting in the selection of five articles for analysis. The findings revealed that, although the importance of oral hygiene is widely acknowledged, significant challenges remain regarding the standardization of protocols, availability of resources, and specific training of healthcare teams. The role of the dentist is still limited, yet crucial for preventing complications such as ventilator-associated pneumonia. It is concluded that increasing the presence of Dentistry in NICUs, promoting continuous education, and integrating oral care into neonatal care protocols are essential for improving health outcomes in this population.