Tobacco is the most commonly abused
form of habit by the majority of the population. Tobacco use is one of the
leading and aggressive causes of death across the world. People in the developed and also developing countries are the victims of the tobacco-related diseases. About 6 million people die from tobacco epidemic, and nearly 600,000
people die from second-hand smoking. Death consequences of tobacco-related
diseases are a significant threat to the world. It is estimated that 80% of
deaths in the low-and middle-income countries will be due to tobacco
consumption.
Studies have shown that more than
90% of the oral cancers are due to tobacco abuse. Tobacco can be taken in
various forms including smoke and smokeless tobacco. The smoked form is frequently available in the form of cigarettes, beedi, chuttas, hukkas, etc.and the smokeless form exists as snuff, gutka, khaini and many other types. Tobacco use has been associated with oral mucosal changes, which could
range from a minor pigmentation to premalignant lesions and finally ends up with
frank malignancies.