Abstract
Background: Oral exfoliated cytology is one of the effective screening and diagnostic tools for early detection of oral mucosal diseases. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional case-control study conducted in Hall city, Northern Saudi Arabia Smoked tobacco users were ascertained as cases and non-tobacco users were ascertained as controls. Oral cytological materials brushing of the buccal mucosa. Results: Acute inflammatory cells infiltrate were identified in 9 cytological smears, 5 were from the cases, and 4 from controls. Chronic inflammatory cells infiltrate were identified in 10 oral cytological smears 8 were from the cases and 2 from controls. The risk of chronic inflammatory cells infiltrates associated with tobacco smoking, the odds ratio (OR), and 95% confidence interval (95%Cl) was, OR (95%Cl) = 2.9565 (0.6084 to 14.3667), P = 0.1790, z statistics = 1.344. Fungal infection was identified in 13 cytological smears, 10 belongs to cases and 3 belongs to controls. The risk of oral fungal infection associated with tobacco smoking, OR (95%Cl) was 1.344(0.6573 to 9.3678), P = 0.1799, z statistics = 1.341. Conclusion: Exposure to tobacco products can induce inflammatory events in the buccal mucosa, which can be identified by oral exfoliated cytology. Fungal and viral oral infections are common among tobacco users. Further research is needed to explore the hidden causes of inflammation and predict their expected complications.