How to Avoid Oral Ulcers When Chewing Betel Nuts
Disease description:
A friend brought back a lot of betel nuts from a trip. I’d never tried them before, and they looked appealing—but I’ve heard that chewing betel nuts can cause oral ulcers. I’d like to know how to chew betel nuts without developing oral ulcers.
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Zhang Liwen
Only by completely stopping betel nut chewing can oral ulcers be prevented. Betel nuts are irritating to the mucosa; the dried form commonly consumed can cause mucosal irritation and subsequent ulcer formation. Patients may opt for topical treatments for oral ulcers, such as Kangfushen Liquid or epidermal growth factor (EGF) gel, which typically promote healing within one week. However, if an ulcer feels unusually firm or indurated, a biopsy should be performed promptly to determine its nature.
