Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is the chronic debilitating and crippling condition of oral mucosa. It is well recognised as potentially malignant disorder which is associated mainly with the use of arecanut in various forms. It is characterised by inflammation and progressive fibrosis of the submucosal tissue. The pathogenesis of the disease includes various factors like arecanut chewing, chillies, nutritional deficiencies and genetic processes. The management of OSF has been the subject of controversy ever since Schwartz first described the condition in 1952. Through this article, an attempt is made to update the knowledge regarding aetiology and its therapeutic and surgical management which improves the life expectancy of patients suffering from OSF.Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is a chronic insidious disease affecting any part of the oral cavity and sometimes the pharynx. Although, occasionally preceded by or associated with vesical formation, it is always associated with a juxta-epithelial inflammatory reaction followed by fibroelastic changes of lamina propria with epithelial atrophy, leading to stiffness of oral mucosa and causingtrismus and inability to eat.