Prevalence of Oral Mucosal Lesions and Relationship with Habits: A Cross-Sectional Prospective Clinical Study

Background: Epidemiologic researches about oral mucosal lesions (OML) and possible relationships between OML and some habits or conditions have been performed in different populations. Objective: To determine the prevalence of oral mucosal lesions and relationship between OML and black tea, tooth brushing-habits, smoking, alcohol consumption, denture use on the oral mucosal lesions. Subjects and Methods: In this cross-sectional prospective clinical study, randomize selected 930 dermatology outpatients were examined using WHO criteria for oral mucosal lesions in our tertiary state hospital in Istanbul, Turkey, between September 2012 and December 2012. Results: Oral mucosal lesion was recorded in 500 (53.8%) subjects (164 (%32.8) female). The mean age of the patients was 41.3±1.99 years (ranging from 18 to 88). Frictional keratosis, nicotine stomatitis, and gingivitis were significantly more prevalent among the alcohol drinkers. Frictional keratosis was seen significantly higher in patients with denture. Heavy smoking was the risk factor for nicotine stomatitis, pigmentation, frictional keratosis, and gingivitis. Drinking black tea was found to be a significant risk factor for occurrence of nicotine stomatitis, xerostomia and gingivitis. Conclusion: This study has provided information about the epidemiologic aspect of oral mucosal lesion in this region. Public health policies should be implemented in order to manage this problem rationally.