An Account of Areca Nut Uses and Oral Health Damages from An Indian Perspective

Abstract

There is a perception in India that packaged paan masala and betel quid (BQ) with areca nut loosely called
paan supari both being devoid of tobacco are not carcinogenic. This article intends to be an awareness initiative
against this notion. It focuses on the use of areca nuts in various forms. An understanding is necessary for the
identification of components of gutka, various forms of BQ, and paan masala wherein areca nut is used. Areca nut
consumption damages oral health and leads to the development of oral submucous fibrosis (OSF). OSF is used as
an umbrella term for depicting all potentially malignant lesions. Gutka is a product popular in India that uses areca
nuts and a form of flavoured tobacco (zarda) as the main component. Although oral tobacco is implicated as a grade
I carcinogen, areca nuts and BQ-containing areca nuts belong to the same grade. Areca nuts are the fourth largest
addictive substance in the world. Deleterious effects of areca nuts in various forms are a grossly underreported area
of research. Initiatives against areca nut uses are required.