Objective To optimize management for gastric tube placement in patients undergoing surgical treatment for moderate-to-advanced stage oral cancer, and to enhance intraoperative placement rate and one-attempt success rate after the operation. Methods Seventy-two patients with moderate-to-advanced stage oral cancer were divided into a control group of 42 and an intervention group of 30 according to their admission time, receiving either routine management or optimized gastric tube placement process cooperated by surgeons and nurses. Results The intervention group had higher intraoperative placement rate and one-attempt success rate after the operation, as well as milder pain intensity compared with the control group (P<0.05, P<0.01). Conclusion The optimized management for gastric tube placement can not only enhance intraoperative placement rate and one-attempt success rate after the operation, but also alleviate pain experience of patients.