Aim: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) contributes to 30% of the cancers in India. Harmful use of tobacco and alcohol is implicated in the pathogenesis of oral cancer. This study aimed at describing the tobacco consumption patterns in patients of OSCC visited in a tertiary care dental hospital in coastal Karnataka, India. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study of 108 cases of OSCC from 2015 to 2018 was carried out in a tertiary care dental hospital. Demographic details of the patients’ sex, age, tobacco habit, and site of cancer were entered into MS Excel. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. The tobacco consumption pattern was expressed in percentages and proportions, and the association between the variables was determined by Chi-square (χ²) test and the Mann–Whitney U test. Results: Of the 108 cases of OSCC, 84 (77.8%) were males. The most common site of the OSCC was the buccal mucosa along the gingivobuccal sulcus, which was seen in 65 (60.20%) cases. In males, the most common type of tobacco consumed was in the smoked form, which was observed in 39 (46.4%) cases, and among females the smokeless tobacco (ST) consumption was found in 15 (62.5%) cases. Conclusion: The most common site for OSCC was the buccal mucosa along with the gingivobuccal sulcus. The most common types of tobacco consumed in patients with OSCC were smoked form in males and ST in females. Clinical significance: There is a need to work toward public awareness about the detrimental effects of tobacco practice and oral cancer screening programs, which might prevent the morbidity and mortality of OSCC in this region due to early diagnosis that is achievable.