Is Khat chewing habit a risk factor for occlusal caries progression?

Area of Science:

• Dental Public Health
• Oral Epidemiology
• Substance Use Research

Background:

• Khat (Catha edulis) is habitually chewed by millions daily in Yemen and East Africa.
• Prolonged khat use raises concerns regarding its impact on oral health.
• Occlusal caries represents a significant dental health challenge in these populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between khat consumption and the progression of occlusal caries.
• To quantify the risk of caries progression in khat chewers compared to non-chewers.
• To identify demographic factors influencing this relationship.

Main Methods:

• A 12-week prospective cohort study involving 98 Yemeni khat chewers and 101 controls (aged 18-35).
• Baseline assessments included socio-demographics, oral hygiene, sugar intake, and knowledge.
• Occlusal caries (early enamel lesions) were detected visually and confirmed with DIAGNOdent (13-24); progression defined as DIAGNOdent >25.

Main Results:

• The relative risk of occlusal caries progression was 1.68 times higher in khat chewers than non-chewers.
• No significant difference in caries progression was observed between the chewing and non-chewing sides within khat users.
• Khat chewing emerged as a significant predictor of caries progression, especially among participants with low income.

Conclusions:

• Khat consumption is identified as a risk factor for occlusal caries progression.
• The risk is notably elevated within the low-income demographic group.
• Findings underscore the need for targeted oral health interventions for khat-chewing populations.