What is OSF?
Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is a chronic disease that produces scars, tissue fibrosis, and precancerous lesions.
What are symptom?
It is characterized by severe burning sensation in the mouth after ingesting spicy foods, dry mouth, pain, taste disorders, restricted tongue mobility, trismus, dysphagia, and altered tone.
Is this lesion dangerous?
It has high malignant transformation rate (1.5–15%). Hence it need attention and treatment.
What are the causes of OSF?
It can be caused by chewing betel nut, consumption of spicy foods, vitamin B, C, and iron deficiencies, human papilloma virus (HPV) infection, and genetic.
Does smoking or alcohol has any role?
Chewing and smoking tobacco and drinking alcohol increase the risk.
What can be the possible treatment?
Treatment include avoidance of causative agents, medical and surgical.
In general, drug treatments for OSF are efficacious. Nevertheless, individuals susceptible to OSF and possibly to the further development of Oral Squamous cell carcinoma should abandon unhealthy lifestyle practices, such as betel nut chewing and tobacco smoking, and consume natural foods with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.