Doctor supports ban

 CHEWING betel nut not only stains the teeth but destroys the oral cavity, a doctor says. 

Country’s only dental surgeon Dr Matupi Apaio said betel nut affected the environment around the oral cavity and allowed diseases to attack the teeth, gum and tongue. 

“Although buai helps in the short term, it destroys the gum between the teeth in the long run,” he said.

“Chewing buai helped develop mouth cancer and decay in the teeth.”

He supports the ban on betel nut in Port Moresby.

“I’m an advocate of the buai ban and in the past two years, we’ve been going out and doing public awareness and campaigns,” he said.

Apio said he was leading the campaign against betel nut under the Health Department.

He said the only way to get things right was for the people to put in a collective effort on oral health and urged people to be  conscious about their mouth .