The word “tobacco” was originally used a “y” shaped piece of cone or pipe called Tobago. That was used by Mexican Indians, to inhale powdered leaves of a plant. Later, the plant came to the known as tobacco. The generic name of the tobacco plant, Nicotiana is derived from the name of the French Ambassador to Portugal, Jean Nicot.  Harmful Substances in Tobacco:  Tobacco is addictive and is harmful to health in many ways. It contains an alkaloid, Nicotine, Which is the main addictive agent.   Tobacco also contains thousands of chemical compounds which are not only irritants, toxins, but also carcinogens.  The most dangerous carcinogens in tobacco:  1. The tobacco specific nitrosamines  2. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and many others.  Smoking habits: Tobacco is used in the form of  1. Cigarettes 2. Cigars 3. Bidis 4. Cheroot 5. Hookah 6. Dhumti 7. Pan with tobacco 8. Ghutka (tobacco-lime preparations) 9. Mawa  Lesions or Diseases due to Tobacco chewing or Smoking:  1. Leukoderma: it is a chronic mucosal condition in which oral mucosa appears as a grayish white opaque appearance. It is common among the cigarette’s and bidi’s smokers. It is rarely become cancer.  2. Smoker’s palate: The palatal mucosa appears diffused, thick, grayish white with many excrescences having central red dots corresponding to salivary grand duct openings. Here the palatal mucosa appears as red erythematous lesion involving the hard palate and also some times the soft palate. It also shows papillary hyperplasia which consists of red, ovoid, smooth, nodules, of 2-3 mm in size. The lesions may likely undergo to precancerous condition.  3. Leukoplakia: it is the most common precancerous lesion. The term Leukoplakia means a white patch in the mouth. It is caused by tobacco (main), alcohol, certain virus, and chronic irritation from sharp tooth etc.  4. Oral Sub mucous Fibrosis: It is caused by chilly consumption, areca nut chewing, autoimmunity and also tobacco. It is characterized by mucosal rigidity of varying intensity due to fibroblastic transformation of the Juxta-epithelial connective tissue layer.  Signs and Symptoms:  1. There is burning sensation in the mouth after taking spicy foods. 2. When tongue is affected, it is devoid of papillae and appears smooth and glossy and its movement is restricted. 3. There is progressive closure of mouth opening (Trismus). 4. Hyper pigmentation or loss of pigmentation of oral mucosa is common. 5. There is presence of palpable fibrous bands in the Buccal mucosa, retro-molar areas and around the mouth opening.  5 .Oral cancer:  Any malignancy that arises from the oral tissues is called oral cancer.  Spuamous cell carcinoma is most common type.   Globally oral cancer is one of the 10 most common cancers. It is more … [Read more...]