Association between Chewable Tobacco Consumption and Oral Hygiene Habits on Periodontal Health

Aims: To determine the pattern of chewable tobacco habits, to assess the oral hygiene habits among patients visiting dental OPD and to determine the association of oral health maintenance and chewable tobacco with severity of periodontal disease. Study Design: It was a comparative cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Dental Outpatient Department, Liaquat University Hospital Hyderabad and Jamshoro for six months from 1st February 2020 to 31st July 2020. Methodology: A total of 362 subjects were selected by non-probability sampling technique. A pre-designed questionnaire was used to collect the data. Questionnaire forms was close and open ended. The investigator checked the patients, under the supervision of the OPD specialist and classified the periodontal health status. Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS v.22) was used for data analysis. Results: A total of 362 subjects, (84.5%) male and (15.5%) females were included in the study with the mean age 34.9 and SD ± 11.7. A highly significant association was found between chewable tobacco consumption and oral hygiene habits on periodontal health (p=<0.001) and statistically significant difference was found between the scores of measure of probing depth and loss of attachment for male and females (p=<0.001). Conclusion: Periodontal diseases and poor oral hygiene have been diagnosed in all consumers of chewable tobacco. Usage of various types of chewing tobacco has been found to exacerbate the condition by developing pocket formation, bleeding on the probe, and inducing gingival recession as well.

MicroRNA-based biomarkers for oral cancer

Oral cancer (OC) is one of the common cancers in India and the age-adjusted incidence rates of OC in the country are higher. One of the issues concerning OC is the late diagnoses or locally advanced stage of presentation in the majority of the cases. Environmental and lifestyle factors such as tobacco chewing, alcohol consumption, poor oro-dental hygiene, and viruses like human papilloma virus are known to contribute to the development of OC. Furthermore, there are additional risk factors like consumption of betel and areca nut, which are significantly associated with cancers of the oral cavity. OC burden is one of the major health concerns in India, and with unabated use of chewable tobacco consumption in the country, this burden is expected to rise in the future.

Adolescent Users of Chewable Tobacco: Male / Female Personality Comparisons

Prevalence of chewable tobacco among adolescents has multiplied incite of ban on tobacco products. The study compares personality characteristics of 275 male and female users of chewable tobacco (gutkha, kharra) between 12 to 18 years using catell’s high school personality questionnaire. Significant differences were seen in intelligence levels with female users scoring less on intelligence (3.35) than male users (3.81). F females scored higher in expediency and evasion of rules (9.34) than males (10.38) and also had lower levels of self discipline and control (9.72) as compared to males (10.50). Programs for tobacco cessation need to build trust and rapport at initiation stage, target female users keeping in mind their more assertive self image and incorporate meaningful unstructured activities for them.

Irradiation of Chewable Tobacco Mixes for Improvement in Microbiological Quality

Microbiological quality of chewable tobacco mixes traditionally known as “Gutkha” was studied. The microbiological analysis of 15 samples analyzed revealed high bacterial and fungal counts. The total viable counts were in the range of 1.8 × 104 to 7.2 × 104 CFU g−1 and the yeast and mold count from 3.6 × 103 to 7.1 × 104 CFU g−1. The proteolytic and lipolytic counts were 9 × 102 to 2.6 × 103 CFU g−1 and 2.6 × 103 CFU g−1, on an average, respectively. Lecithinase-positive Staphylococcus aureus was found in 2 of the 15 samples analyzed; the counts were up to 3.4 × 103 CFU g−1. Coliform and Salmonella spp. were found to be absent. Aflatoxins B1, B2, and G2 were found to be present in all the samples. These samples were exposed to gamma radiation (60Co) at 1-, 2-, 3-, 5-, 10-, and 25-kGy doses. The decrease in total viable count and fungal count was noticed with increase of radiation dose. The 3-kGy dose was observed to be the sterilization dose for Gutkha. At this dose no survival of organisms was noticed and no revival was observed during postirradiation storage at room temperature for 6 months.