# Gutkha, khaini and oral cancer: what to look for

Reviewed by [Dr. Rekha Pandey, BDS (NMC 38136)](https://kashyapdental.com.np/dr-rekha-pandey)

**Short answer:** Chewing gutkha, khaini, surti, paan or supari, and smoking, raise the risk of oral cancer; the World Health Organization lists tobacco, alcohol and areca nut use among its leading causes. A quick, painless mouth check can find early warning signs while they are still treatable. At Kashyap Dental & Aesthetics in Butwal, screening is done by Dr. Rekha Pandey (BDS); the cost is confirmed at consultation.

## What are the early warning signs?

- A white or red patch that doesn't go away
- An ulcer that hasn't healed in 2 weeks
- Difficulty opening your mouth fully
- Burning with spicy food
- A lump or thickening in the cheek, tongue or gums
- Numbness or unexplained bleeding

Having a symptom does not definitely mean you have cancer, but it is important to get checked by a dentist.

## Why does screening matter in Rupandehi?

A 2024 study of 500 outpatients in Rupandehi found that tobacco-related mouth lesions (oral submucous fibrosis, leukoplakia, tobacco pouch keratosis and chewer's mucositis) are the most prevalent oral diseases in the district, with 41% of participants using tobacco and areca-nut chewing a significant predictor of oral submucous fibrosis. Nepal's National Oral Health Policy lists oral cancer as a leading cause of cancer in Nepal.

## What happens at a screening?

A painless visual and touch examination of your mouth, tongue and gums, done in a few minutes during any dental visit. If we find a suspicious area, we explain what it means and arrange further tests or a specialist referral.

## Who should be screened?

Anyone who uses any form of tobacco or areca nut, current or past, and anyone over 40 at their routine check-up.

## Does quitting help?

Yes. Stopping tobacco and areca nut is the most important step, and many changes improve after quitting. We give practical advice to quit and can point you to cessation support.

## Frequently asked questions

### Does screening hurt?

No. It is a visual and touch examination with no needles or cutting.

### If I've used gutkha for years, is it too late?

No. Many changes improve after quitting, and early detection greatly improves outcomes.

### Is oral submucous fibrosis cancer?

No, but it is a potentially malignant condition, which means it can develop into cancer in some people. It needs regular monitoring.

## Read next

- https://kashyapdental.com.np/oral-cancer-screening
- https://kashyapdental.com.np/prices
- https://kashyapdental.com.np/dr-rekha-pandey

## Sources

- [World Health Organization: Oral health fact sheet](https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/oral-health)
- [NHS: Mouth cancer symptoms](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/mouth-cancer/symptoms/)
- [Gupta & Shrestha, Athens Journal of Health and Medical Sciences (Dec 2024): tobacco-associated oral lesions in Rupandehi](https://doi.org/10.30958/ajhms.11-4-2)
- [Ministry of Health and Population, Nepal: National Oral Health Policy](https://mohp.gov.np/uploads/Resources/1657877144550National%20Oral%20Health%20Policy.pdf)

Last updated: 24 Oct 2026

## Clinic details
- **Kashyap Dental & Aesthetics**, Butwal (काश्यप डेन्टल एन्ड एस्थेटिक्स)
- Address: Tilottama Path (Hospital Line), near Gastrocare, Butwal 32907, Lumbini Province, Nepal (तिलोत्तमा पथ (हस्पिटल लाइन), ग्यास्ट्रोकेयर नजिक, बुटवल). On Hospital Line (Tilottama Path), next to Gastrocare. Plus code MFX8+29 Butwal.
- Phone / WhatsApp: +977 974-3679953 (https://wa.me/9779743679953)
- Email: kashyapdcaa@gmail.com
- Opening hours: every day, 8 AM–6 PM
    - Sunday: 8:00 AM–6:00 PM
    - Monday: 8:00 AM–6:00 PM
    - Tuesday: 8:00 AM–6:00 PM
    - Wednesday: 8:00 AM–6:00 PM
    - Thursday: 8:00 AM–6:00 PM
    - Friday: 8:00 AM–6:00 PM
    - Saturday: 8:00 AM–6:00 PM
- Payment: Cash, eSewa, Khalti, Fonepay / bank QR, debit and credit cards
- Doctors: Dr. Rekha Pandey, BDS (NMC 38136), performs every treatment except braces and aligners; Dr. Madhav Pandey, MDS Orthodontics (NMC 15670), plans and treats every braces and clear aligner case.
- Google Maps: https://maps.google.com/?cid=2552023128400234002
- Prices: https://kashyapdental.com.np/prices
- Book an appointment: https://kashyapdental.com.np/book

Source: https://kashyapdental.com.np/guides/gutkha-khaini-oral-cancer