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Nerida Bun, Lecturer in Dentistry, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, The University of Papua New Guinea

Behind the betel nut smile: the quiet epidemic of oral cancer in Papua New Guinea

Yoon S. Byun/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

If you’ve ever visited Papua New Guinea you’ll have been struck by the friendliness of the people, and their welcoming smiles. You might also have noticed some of those smiles are red.

It’s caused by the chewing of “betel quid”, a mixture of unripe areca nut, mustard stick and slaked lime (calcium hydroxide).

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