India is considered to be the oral cancer capital of the world. Oral squamous cell carcinoma is a multifactorial disease with tobacco and alcohol being considered major risk factors. However, there is a growing incidence of nonhabit (i.e., the absence of tobacco or alcohol) associated oral cancer. Difference is noted in demographics, site predilection, grade, and stage while comparing habit associated and nonhabit associated oral carcinoma. This warrants a need for a greater understanding of carcinogenesis without a known carcinogen. This case adds to the sparse existing scientific literature on oral cancer in nonhabitués and reviews the possible etiopathogenic mechanisms underlying the disease process.
Keywords: Nonhabitués; oral carcinogenesis; trauma.