Smoking and its Role in Oral Cancer.

Oral cancer remains a significant public health concern globally, with smoking identified as a primary risk factor. This abstract reviews the role of smoking in the etiology of oral cancer, emphasizing its contribution to carcinogenesis through the induction of genetic mutations, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Tobacco smoke contains carcinogenic compounds such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, nitrosamines, and heavy metals, which are implicated in the transformation of oral mucosal cells.