Effects of Smoking on healthy oral mucosa: a red-green-blue (photographic) evaluation.

Effects of Smoking on healthy oral mucosa: a red-green-blue (photgraphic) evaluation.

AIM: The aim of this study was to compare normal looking oral mucosa of smokers and non-smokers by means of a photographic technique.

SETTING: Tertiary referral centre Material and methods: There were 78 patients included in the study (age range: 20-60 years), all of whom had normal looking oral mucosa and had been smoking for at least five years. The control group of non-smoking volunteers was age- and gender-matched. Anyone who had reflux, chronic tonsillitis, and pharyngitis or acute upper airway infection was excluded from the study. The oropharyngeal mucosa was examined and photographed endoscopically. Seventeen different oropharyngeal points were chosen and standardized, and the red-green-blue (RGB) values of those specific points were measured.

RESULTS: 156 subjects were enrolled in the study: the control group (19 females, 59 males; mean age 41.5 years) and the smoking group (21 females, 57 males; mean age 38.7 years). A statistically significant difference arose between the RGB values of the smoking and control groups (p < 0.05), but not for gender and age (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION: The study revealed that the normal oral mucosae of the smokers were clearly darker than the non-smokers'. This finding is significant because dark mucosa is thought to be the precursor to any premalignant lesions.