This is a rare disorder which involves inflammation and progression within the mouth’s fibrosis tissues. It starts as a regular swelling and redness, which proceeds to blistering and ulceration until eventually it becomes a stiff fibrous tissue the moment it heals. This is problematic because it may cause difficulty in eating, speaking and even in the opening of our mouth. At times, even the pharynx becomes involved thus resulting to a more harmful and cancerous condition.
History
The earliest case of oral submucous fibrosis was discovered by J. Schwartz in 1952. This was seen in five Indian women from Kenya and he described their condition as atrophica idiopathica mucosa oris which is a form of oral fibrosing disease. In the year 1953, S.G. Joshi used the term oral submucous fibrosis and the name was used from then on.
Symptoms
Those with oral submucous fibrosis complain of the following:
- Sunken cheeks
- Mouth pain
- Nasal voice
- Dry mouth
- Stiff tongue
- Impaired hearing
- Impaired speech
- Impaired mouth movements
- Increased salivation
- Shrunken uvula
- Blistering inside the mouth
- Fibrosis inside the mouth
- Ulceration inside the mouth
- Redness inside the mouth
- Eating problems
- Small tongue
- Difficulty in swallowing hard solids
Causes
Most of oral submucous fibrosis patients blame this condition in frequent consumption of beetle nut, masala, alcoholic beverages and spicy food as well as chewing of tobacco and smoking. Aside from this, some studies suggest that it can also be triggered by extreme climatic conditions, immunological diseases and prolonged iron and vitamin deficiency in a person’s diet.
Treatment and Prevention
- Before recommending any dental treatment for oral submucous fibrosis, dentists require that patients undergo a biopsy screening. This is mandatory before any treatment can be performed or applied to a patient’s mouth.
- Refrain from eating the above mentioned foods and minimum consumption of spicy foods particularly chili is required.
- Adhere to proper and regular maintenance of good oral hygiene.
- Eat foods that are rich in Vitamins A, B complex, C as well as iron.
- For diagnosed patients with oral submucous fibrosis the following treatments may be recommended:
- Patients are advised to use chewable hydrocortisone chewable pellets, which are also known as Efcorlin. It should be chewed for three to four hours regularly within three to four weeks or until the symptoms start to decrease.
- Complete elimination of alcohol and hot fluids in your diet.
Submucosal injection of 100mg of hydrocortisone on a patient’s mouth for either once or twice a day which depends on the severity of your condition.
Surgical treatment in special cases which involves progressive fibrosis especially when the interincisor of the teeth becomes less than two centimeters in length.
Use of pentoxifyline which is methylaxanthine derivative that can help increase the mucosal vascularity of your mouth.
Hello Dr. Chatan
Hope you are fine, I am Akram Aghadi Software Engineer.
I had a habit of Chewinging Gutkha in College days.
I have left the all kind of gutkha and other things since 3 years, although i have problem in my right jaw it doesnt opes properly and i feel very dry in jaw part as well as in neck (Only Right Side).
Can you give me some suggesions pls ??
@Akram Aghadi,
@Akram Aghadi, take glucosamine tab bd for 15 days ….
i have submucous fibrosis, twice all blood test done, MRI and CT scan done but nothing came out.
need treatment at earliest
Hi Dr. Chetan,
I am saying to that, about 1 year ago my mouth was not working and open properly, and now my mouth open only like 1 finger size in landscape position.
Please help me and advise me for treatment.
It’s still a very bad situation, Khalid. Hope you get better, and get the right treatment done for the same with the injections for OSF along with the medication from the dentist before it gets worse. And hope you have stopped the actual cause, which usually is the chewing of gutkha or tobacco or pan masala.
hylo Doctor, my mouth is opened to 45mm . But the issue is that I feel dryness in the mouth, chillies while eating spicy food and sunken cheeks, I have left gutkha since 2 months
My question is: is there any treatment for sunken cheeks
I am 44 years old,I had a very bad habit of chewing Gutka Since Last 12 Years which I left three years ago , but still eat tobacco,The result is that my mouth opens not properly, more than troubled by the problem,hardly 01 fingure insert in my mouth
reads and hears about this, I’m that much of it is very difficult to treat,I have done wrong, the punishment of which still am suffering I spoke with some doctors, but they do little to treat things, and many more terrifying, it is possible to treat drug and injection
I read your articles on the Internet, so contacting you,kindly suggest me doctors in navi mumbai or mumbai area
Hello doctor
I am 35 years old ..i was into cigarettes , VERY occasional alcohol and tremendous gutkha eating habits from around 2005 to 2015 ..i left everything for good on July 2015..i did my scaling , endoscopy of neck , visited ENT, did visit in cancer hospital of silchar, Assam ,india..my mouth opening has increased from vertical 1 finger to 2.5 fingers…i took colostrum capsule for a month..i refrain from chillies..although Ieat lots of veggies fruits and pulses and brush twice daily…my question is that …although I had confirmed OSMF from the doctors….what chances are that I can get cancer??? And what do you think if my conditions will get BETTER or worse with time…any suggestions for me??
thank you
My self jeetendra age 34 year I have a osmf but my mouth is open proper and nothing is there but the mN thing is that my inside my mouth some where white doctor told me nothing to worry just take some lycopin
Hi doctor, I am Rohit, I am a smoker for past 10 yrs. Recently I have started having burning sensation in my mouth whenever I eat even mild spicy food. I have shown to dentist but not undergone biopsy. I have a kind of allergy to spicy food since childhood and refrain from anything spicy, however, I am having this burning sensation and am scared if the worst. Can you pl guide