Epidemiological Study of Tobacco and Tobacco Induced Oral Mucosal Lesion among Population

NTRODUCTION Consumption of various tobacco products is becoming an upcoming trend for today’s world. Epidemiologic studies have demonstrated a wide variety in prevalence rates in oral lesions in different population due to various habits. It has been reported that the oral mucosal disease may affect 25–50% of individuals having various habits, depending on the population studied. Chewing, smoking, and consumption of alcoholic beverages have become a common social habit in India. Consumption of various tobacco products is since 600 AD. 1 It is becoming an upcoming trend for today’s world. It causes both premalignant lesions and conditions depending upon type of usage. Tobacco is the second major cause of death in the world. The death toll from tobacco consumption is now 4.9 million people a year. If the present consumption pattern continues, the number of deaths will increase to 10 million by the year 2020. 2 Tobacco habit is prevalent both in males and females however higher tendency in males as compare to females. Furthermore, the prevalence was higher among the rural population and those with no formal education. It is available in smoking and smokeless tobacco. Cigarette smoking is more common in urban than rural area. It is available in different forms like pan, pan masala, khaini, mishri, zarda, mawa, supari. Smokeless tobacco contains, arecanut, tobacco, catechu, slaked lime. It causes various lesions like leukoplakia, tobacco pouch keratosis, smokers palate, smokers melanosis etc. 3