Abstract: Autophagy is a highly conservative cellular self-protective behavior dependent on lysosomes, and can be used as an important factor in promoting or preventing cancer, and its effect is related to the type and development of tumors. A full understanding of autophagy pathway is helpful to improve the diagnosis and treatment of tumors. Studies have shown that autophagy is closely related to the occurrence and development of oral tumors. Autophagy-related genes and signal pathways play a dual regulatory role on oral tumors. This article reviews the latest progress in the regulatory mechanism and therapeutic effect of autophagy on oral tumors.