(By Dr. Joseph D. Lim and Dr. Kenneth Lester Lim, BS-MMG, DDM, MSc-OI)
BETEL nut-chewing is common in Asia.
While the habit seems to be decreasing in popularity among young Filipinos, the practice persists.
It is called buyo, bunga, hitso, or nga nga. In the Visayas the practice is known as mama.
They all mean “to chew” areca nuts (also called “betel nuts”) mixed with slaked lime and betel leaves that give a stimulant “high”.
The practice is common in Southeast Asia, the Pacific, and the Indian subcontinent. It is also popular among some of the indigenous peoples of Taiwan, Madagascar, parts of southern China, and the Maldives.
The betel nut, lime, and betel leaves when mixed together is called a betel quid. In South Asia especially, the quid is mixed with coconut, dates, sugar, menthol, saffron, cloves, aniseed, cardamom, and other spices. These days, areca nut itself can be replaced with or chewed with tobacco.
The Indian subcontinent has scaled up the practice several notches, packaging the betel quid in commercial forms and sold in countries outside of India.
Aggressive marketing has found new markets in both Asia and Africa for gutkha (chewing tobacco and betel nut) and pan masala (a mix of tobacco, betel nut, slaked lime and acacia leaves).
Oral cancer cases are rising at an alarming rate in India, The Times of India reports.
It says tobacco consumption includes smokeless tobacco, betel-quid chewing, excessive alcohol consumption, and unhygienic oral conditions are some of the risks for a higher incidence of oral cancer.
“Early detection is important to lower the mortality rate of patients with oral cancer,” reports Dharitri Ganguly. “Regular dental check-ups and quitting tobacco will aid in timely diagnosis and prompt treatment.”
Oral cancer is an abnormal growth of tissues in the mouth that turn into cancer, The Times of India explains.
It can spread from mouth to nose, neck area, and other parts of the body. In the beginning, the signs can be white or red spots in the mouth, sore on the tongue, lip, or mouth, bleeding in the mouth, swelling in the oral area, and difficulty in swallowing.
“It is an important health issue in India as it is one of the most common types of cancer affecting a large population,” the newspaper says.
Tobacco consumption has been the predominant factor causing oral cancer, it says.
“Consuming tobacco in various forms such as gutkha, zarda, mawa, kharra, khaini, cigarettes, bidi, and hookah is a major cause of tumor development in the oral cavity in both young and adults.”
Tobacco is the prime cause of the occurrence of oral cancer in all age groups in India, Dr. Suhas Aagre, a cancer doctor, tells The Times of India.
“Chewing tobacco, and keeping it for a long time in your mouth can cause a higher risk,” he said.
“If you have been consuming tobacco for a long time and notice symptoms like mouth pain, lip sore, or inability to swallow, non-healing ulcers, bleeding from an ulcer, development of neck swelling, change in voice, difficulty in swallowing then immediately see a doctor and get the required check-ups done.”
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Dr. Joseph D. Lim, Ed. D., is the former Associate Dean of the College of Dentistry, University of the East; former Dean, College of Dentistry, National University; Past President and Honorary Fellow of the Asian Oral Implant Academy; Honorary Fellow of the Japan College of Oral Implantologists; Honorary Life Member of the Thai Association of Dental Implantology; and Founding Chairman of the Philippine College of Oral Implantologists. For questions on dental health, e-mail jdlim2008@gmail.com or text 0917-8591515.
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Dr. Kenneth Lester Lim, BS-MMG, DDM, MSc-OI, graduated Doctor of Dental Medicine, University of the Philippines, College of Dentistry, Manila, 2011; Bachelor of Science in Marketing Management, De la Salle University, Manila, 2002; and Master of Science (MSc.) in Oral Implantology, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany, 2019. He is an Associate Professor; Fellow, International Congress of Oral Implantologists; Member, American Academy of Implant Dentistry and Fellow, Philippine College of Oral Implantologists. For questions on dental health, e-mail limdentalcenter@gmail.com./PN
