Results: As the frequency and duration of areca nut chewing habit increases, the clinical staging also increases. As the duration of smoking increases, clinical staging also increases. The burning sensation (82%) and decreased mouth opening (81%) were the most common symptoms while the most common signs were trismus, blanching of mucosa and palpable fibrotic bands, each occurring in 100% of the cases. (64%) Anaemia, 28% presented with oral squamous cell carcinoma. There is no definitive correlation found in between functional staging & clinical staging. The close association between betel nut and oral sub mucous fibrosis, oral cancer indicate need for a preventive approach through health education and increased awareness among the public of the serious consequences of these habits especially in illiterate, labourer, rural and lower socioeconomic status groups of patients.