The usage of tobacco in any form is detrimental to oral and general health. Tobacco usage has to be taken seriously, and the youth of our nation should be given proper awareness in quitting tobacco.

Smoking causes cancer.
Liquor drinking is injurious to health.
These are common sayings we see everywhere, but how seriously we take them into action is a query. Tobacco is one of the highest risk factors for cancer. Tobacco is the major reason for some of the oral diseases like oral cancer, submucous fibrosis, smoker’s palate, leukoplakia, and nicotinic stomatitis. Smoking or chewing tobacco in any form alters the mucosa and induces dysplastic changes, which is a forerunner of oral cancer.

Tobacco also affects the healing capacity of the body, taking a longer time to heal even a simple injury. It also can alter the taste sensation and cause dry mouth, which in turn causes tooth decay and periodontal problems. It can cause a burning sensation of the oral mucosa with difficulty in having spicy foods, which we usually call nicotinic stomatitis.

Tobacco also causes extrinsic stains on the tooth with melanin pigmentation of the oral cavity, affecting the aesthetic appearance of the tooth and its supporting structures. These diseases affect the quality of life of patients.

Creating awareness among the public about the ill effects of tobacco is very important.
Tobacco is a slow poison.
You are smoking the poison;​​
Chewing the poison;
When you know this, will you do it?