English

Abstract

Tobacco is the greatest disease-producing product, with its prevalent addictive habit influencing the behavior of human beings for more than four centuries. Tobacco is consumed orally in a variety of forms such as smoking and chewable forms. Smoking is increasing rapidly throughout the developing world and is one of the biggest threats to current and future world health. By 2030, if current trends continue, smoking will kill more than nine million people annually. On an average, to date 47.5% of men and 10.3% of women are smokers. In India, tobacco products are commercially available with added scents and flavouring agents which not only attracts rural population but also influences urban population. Tobacco smoking is linked with many serious illnesses, such as cardiopulmonary diseases, cancer, low birth weight, as well as with many other health problems, contributing to thousands of premature deaths each year When exposed to tobacco salivary behaviour is reversed and saliva loses its antioxidant capacity, becoming a potent pro-oxidant milieu Most oral consequences of tobacco use impair quality of life be they as simple as halitosis or as complex as oral birth defects, as common as periodontal disease or as troublesome as complications during wound healing. Tobacco smoking and chewing not only causes discolouration of teeth, periodontitis, dental caries, altered taste, nicotinic stomatitis, but also causes leukoplakia & carcinoma with high morbidity and mortality. It is especially important to understand that harmful effects of tobacco products are dose-dependent, that they depend more on abuse than on simple use. The aim of this review is to highlight the effect of smoking and chewing forms of tobacco on oral health. and remedies which can be thought of.