The Adverse Effects of Betel-Nut Chewing on Oral Health of the Young Males in Taiwan

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship of the betel-nut chewing and oral health conditions of young males in Taiwan. The total number of young males had been screened by both questionnaires and oral examinations was 526. The mean age of the samples was 21.58. The major findings of this investigation were as following summaries: (1). There were 24.9% of young males had the habit of betel-nut chewing and most of them also have smoking and/or alcohol drinking habits. (2). The general population of young males tended to against the use of betel-nut, but the betel-nut chewing group (BNC) had weaker attitude against the use of betel-nut than the non-betel-nut chewing group (NBNC). (3). The most frequently presented symptoms and signs of the BNC group was dry mouth, the second order were vesicles and ulcers, the third order was burning sensation. (4). The BNC group showed poorer oral health conditions than the NBNC group (including mucosal white lesions, gingival index, DMFT index, attrition). When they discovered oral pathologies, only 48.6% of them looked after professional care. (5). The young males with betel-nut chewing, smoking or alcohol drinking habits, were prone to suffered from mucosal white lesions. The pathologies of the BNC group showed the strongest association with the betel-nut chewing habit within these three interacted factors. The results of this study suggest that we should design and advocate a program to disseminate the adverse information regarding betel-nut chewing and to advise all children and adolescent to quit or refuse this bad habit. This study was supported in part by National Science Council, Taiwan, R.O.C. (NDMC87 and NSC89-2314-B016-076).