Understanding
Oral Diseases
Act Early. Heal Completely
Don't wait for the pain. Learn about the conditions affecting your mouth. Uncover the common causes, symptoms, and available treatments to prevent cancer!
Are You at Risk?
Take this 60 seconds quiz to check if you have any early signs of oral diseases.
Factors Responsible for Oral Diseases
Oral diseases develop due to a combination of lifestyle habits, infections, and hygiene practices. Among these, tobacco and smoking remain the most dangerous culprits.
| Common Factors | How They Affect Your Mouth | Early Signs and Symptoms You Should Never Ignore |
|---|---|---|
| Cigarettes, bidis, gutkha, khaini, paan masala, zarda, vaping | Causes chronic irritation, white/red patches, reduced healing, and increases oral cancer risk up to 10 times. |
|
| Irregular brushing, excessive plaque | Leads to gum infections, bleeding, tooth decay, and bad breath. | |
| Alcohol & Areca Nut (Supari) | Damages oral tissues and increases dryness. | |
| Ill-Fitting Dentures or Sharp Teeth | Can create ulcers that become pre-cancerous. | |
| Viral Infections (HPV) | Linked to rising cases of oral and throat cancers. | |
| Nutritional Deficiency: Low vitamins A, C, D, and iron | Weakens gums and delays healing. | |
| Stress & Dehydration | Leads to dry mouth, ulcers, and poor immunity. |
Nearly 85% of oral cancers in India begin as untreated oral diseases or pre cancerous lesions!
Take the First Step!
If you use tobacco or smoke, your mouth is already at risk!
Get Screened Now!
Tobacco Induced Oral Diseases
You Can’t Afford to Ignore Tobacco Induced Oral Diseases!
Tobacco and smoking don’t just stain your teeth—they slowly destroy your oral health, leading to some of the irreversible conditions given below:
Moderate Risk
High Risk
Tap the cards to view images
Oral Pre-Cancerous
Persistent small ulcer-like structures in your mouth that can turn into cancer if left untreated. These lesions often present as white or red patches or a non-healing ulcer. It is mostly painless — often ignored. 8 out of 10 oral cancers start as PML. If detected early, it is 100% treatable and reversible and can prevent cancer.
Oral Fibrosis (OSMF)
A progressive condition causing loss of mouth opening, burning pain, and difficulty eating. It is considered a potentially malignant disorder with a high risk of transformation to oral cancer.
Leukoplakia & Erythroplakia
White, red, or black patches inside your mouth that are early warning signs of deadly oral cancer.
Tooth Decay & Gum Disease
Bad breath, loose teeth, jaw stiffness, thickening or swelling in the cheeks & gums, and painful infections. Tobacco weakens the gum tissue, leading to receding gums, tooth loss, and bone damage.
Lip, Mouth & Throat Cancer
Can be anywhere inside the mouth, lip, and throat. Often deadly if not detected early. Persistent sores, lumps, difficulty swallowing, or a change in voice are critical warning signs.
Smoker’s Keratosis & Smoker’s Lip
Thickening of the skin or mucous membranes and darkening of the lips due to prolonged tobacco exposure. These can lead to pre-cancerous changes if not addressed.
Smoker’s Palate
White, cobblestone-like patches on the roof of the mouth caused by chronic exposure to heat and smoke. While not directly cancerous, it indicates long-term tissue damage.
Periodontal Disease
Inflammation and infection of the gums and bone surrounding the teeth. It leads to tooth loss and increases the risk of systemic diseases like heart disease and diabetes.
Tooth Discoloration
Smoking and chewing tobacco lead to stubborn stains, excessive plaque, and tartar buildup, increasing the risk of tooth decay and gum disease.
Oral Malodor (Halitosis)
Persistent bad breath caused by the buildup of toxins and bacteria in the mouth, a common problem among tobacco users.
The Good News!
All the conditions can be
Photo Medicine and Tobacco Cessation
Why Oral Screening Matters?
Prevents Cancer Before It Starts
Early detection through regular oral screenings can help identify precancerous conditions. Studies show that 90% of oral cancers are preventable with timely intervention.
Reverse Early Damage
Conditions like leukoplakia, OSMF, and smoker’s palate can be managed and treated if caught early through photo-medicine (PBM) and tobacco cessation.
Protect Your Smile & Quality of Life
Early detection prevents irreversible damage, including gum disease and tooth loss, ensuring a healthy smile and better overall well-being.
Why Continued Tobacco Use Worsens Oral Conditions?
Even after treatment, continued tobacco use significantly increases the
chances of recurrence, disease progression, and malignant transformation.
- For conditions like Leukoplakia & Erythroplakia, the transformation rate to cancer can reach 30% if tobacco use persists.
- OSMF patients who continue using tobacco have a higher chance of mouth cancer.
- Gum disease & periodontitis lead to tooth loss and bone deterioration in tobacco users.
Case Studies
Patient 1: ICanCare Tobacco Intervention Programme
July 2021
↓Aug 2021
↓Sep 2021
↓Oct 2021
↓Nov 2021
Dec 2021
Patient Joins the ICanCaRe
Quit Tobacco Programme
Feb 2022
No Cancer Treatment is Required
Patient 2: ICanCaRe Leukoplakia (Lesions) Treatment
47 year old – Smoker & chewer since the age of 14 was diagnosed with Heterogeneous Erythroleukoplakia
47 year old Smoker & chewer since the age
of 14 was diagnosed with Heterogeneous Erythroleukoplakia
Limited Mouth opening of 2.5 cm
Patient joins the ICanCaRe Tobacco Cessation Programme
Mouth opening improved to 3.5 cm
Over the next 6 Months, he continued his journey,
receiving Photo Treatment of Residual Leukoplakia.
No Further Cancer Treatment Required!
Leukoplakia gone in 45 Days!