Betel leaf for oral health: Benefits and uses

Bad breath can be embarrassing and a clear sign that something may be wrong with your oral health. Beyond poor oral health, bad breath can also be caused by eating foods like raw onions or garlic, or after waking up after a good night’s sleep. I especially love pairing raw onions with most meals, and when I’m at home, I don’t think too much of it! But when I’m out and about, I tend to be conscious of my bad breath. My mother told me to do what many people in India do – chew betel leaves after a meal. It is a heart-shaped, shiny green leaf traditionally used in South Asian culture to be chewed after meals or for religious purposes. The traditional recipe includes betel leaves combined with areca nut also called supari, and slaked lime also called chuna to make a paan that people chew after a meal. Having paan after a meal can feel refreshing, but so can chewing just a betel leaf, says my mother.

What are the benefits of betel leaves for oral health?

Nothing can replace the benefits of brushing and flossing to help remove plaque, which is a sticky layer of bacteria that forms on teeth. But home remedies like using betel leaves can also be good for oral health at times.

Various studies have examined the use of betel leaves orally or through products to improve oral health. Herbal betel leaf toothpaste was found to be helpful in treating plaque and gingival bleeding (bleeding gums), according to a 2022 study published in the journal Dentistry. Another study published in the Journal of Global Oral Health in 2023 found that consuming plain betel leaves after a meal helped neutralize the pH of saliva. This, in turn, reduced the acid attack on the teeth that causes demineralization. It is the loss of minerals from the body that can lead to the weakening of tooth enamel.

Betel leaves have antimicrobial properties that can help reduce bacteria in the mouth and prevent infections and bad breath, says Ayurvedic expert Dimple Jangda. It is also high in antioxidants, which can help reduce oxidative stress. Betel leaves act as a mild analgesic or sedative and reduce pain from mouth sores or toothaches. Also, chewing betel leaves improves saliva production.

How to use betel leaves for oral health?

Here are some ways to use betel leaves:

• Consume betel leaves, but in moderation and without additional ingredients.
• Use herbal toothpaste with betel leaves in it
• Use betel leaf gargle. You can boil some betel leaves in water, strain the juice and swish it in your mouth for a minute or so as a mouthwash.

In addition to oral health, in many homes people also use it to treat phlegm and cough in children. For this, a betel leaf is heated in a pan, made into a paste and applied to the chest of the child suffering from phlegm, says the expert. The heat generated by the betel leaf paste helps the child to cough up phlegm and gives relief from respiratory health problems. Alternatively, you can also boil betel leaves in water and gargle with this mixture to treat sore throats and mouth infections.

For overall maintenance of oral health, it is best to chew only one betel leaf after a meal. You can also use betel leaf mouthwash two to three times a week to prevent bad breath.

What are the side effects of betel leaves?

Before using betel leaves for oral health, know its side effects:

• Excessive use or chewing of betel leaves with added substances such as tobacco or walnuts can cause irritation and damage to the oral mucosa, which is the mucous membrane or skin inside the mouth.
• People may also experience allergies such as itching, redness or swelling in the mouth.
• It can severely stain the teeth and make it visually unpleasant.
• When betel leaves are consumed in excess or combined with areca nuts or tobacco, it can also cause oral cancer.

Who should avoid using betel leaf for oral health?

People with allergies should avoid consuming betel leaves. Those with pre-existing oral health problems such as sensitive gums and mouth ulcers should avoid betel leaves as they may worsen these symptoms. Children and pregnant women should also avoid consuming betel leaves.

Betel leaves provide oral health benefits due to their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. But they should be consumed in moderation and with care.