Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is a premalignant condition strongly associated with the practice of chewing areca nut, a habit common among South Asian population. It is characterised by inflammation, increased deposition of submucosal collagen and formation of fibrotic bands in the oral and paraoral tissues, which increasingly limit mouth opening. A case of OSMF occurring in a 9-year-old Indian girl is presented. This paper discusses the aetiology, clinical presentation and treatment modalities of oral submucous fibrosis.