Chewing betel nut can not only make teeth blackened, worn and shaken, and gum atrophy cause periodontal disease, oral submucosal fibrosis and oral leukoplakia, but also lead to oral cancer. According to the survey, 88% of patients with oral cancer have the habit of chewing betel nut.
(2) Serious health hazards:
1. Precancerous lesions induced by betel nut:
(1) Oral submucosal fibrosis:
It is common in buccal mucosa, followed by jaw area. The oral mucosa will have burning sensation, ulcer and whitening, which will eventually lead to difficulty in opening mouth and swallowing. Some patients with oral submucosal fibrosis will become oral cancer.
(2) Oral leukoplakia:
It is common in buccal mucosa, tongue, floor of mouth and lip angle. Mucosal leukoplakia will gradually change from innocence to mixed white, and some patients with leukoplakia will become oral cancer.
2. Oral cancer:
Areca catechu, commonly known as Semen Ziziphi Spinosae, is carcinogenic. The added "lime" is a cancer aid. The World Health Organization (WHO) has reviewed the related literature on betel nut chewing and cancer, and reached the following conclusions:
(1) Tobacco chewing with betel nut is identified as the cause of human cancer.
(2) Smoking and chewing betel nut can easily lead to oral cancer and throat cancer.
For your health, please don't chew betel nut. For example, smokers need to give up, because the combination of the two is more likely to cause oral cancer, laryngeal cancer, pharyngeal cancer and esophageal cancer. Besides, smoking and chewing betel nut combined with drinking will have a more carcinogenic effect.
3. Tooth injury
Frequent chewing action exceeds the normal load, resulting in tooth wear (abrasion) and gum vibration.