Is Sodium Carbonate in Snuff a Causative Factor for Oral Mucosal Lesions: A Cross-sectional Analysis

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: Nicotine absorption through the mucous membrane is directly proportional to pH, so the snuff is buffered to pH of 8–9 by adding sodium carbonate. The objective of the present study is to assess the impact of various forms of sodium carbonate in snuff on mucosal conditions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present cross-sectional study was conducted on 284 participants. Snuff users adding sodium carbonate were further splitted into two groups, that is, one group using sodium carbonate in premixed form, that is, (already mixed within pouches) and other group adding sodium carbonate separately (freshly mixed). The parametric one-way (ANOVA) of variance, stepwise regression analysis, and multiple logistic regression analysis have been done to narrate the relationship between variables of different forms of sodium carbonate in snuff and different oral conditions. RESULTS: The statistics of our study reveals highly significant relationship between snuff users using sodium carbonate in freshly mixed (0.001**) form than that of premixed form (P = 0.030*). CONCLUSION: The present study narrates that there seems to be liaison between the use of sodium carbonate in snuff and oral mucosal lesions.