‘hubble-bubble leads to trouble’ – waterpipe smoking and oral health

Abstract

This paper explains what smoking a waterpipe involves, the associated misconceptions of safety amongst users and the dangers to health.

Waterpipe Tobacco Smoking among Arab Youth; a Cross-Country Study

“…Still, WTS delivers large boluses of nicotine, 2 causes symptoms of nicotine addiction, 3,4 is being initiated earlier than cigarettes, [5][6][7] acts as a gateway for cigarettes smoking, 8 and contributes significantly to increasing morbidity. 9,10 In the Arab countries, where the growing WTS epidemic is particularly apparent, especially among youth, 6,[11][12][13] the spread of WTS was initiated in the early 1990s with the introduction of Ramadan tents (special form of cafés), where the waterpipe was the focus of social gather-ings. 12 Today, WTS among youth is a socially acceptable habit that is built within the Arabic culture.…”

Exploring barriers to tobacco smoking cessation in minority ethnic patients in the UK

“…Other forms of smoking popular in minority groups such as waterpipes (hookas) and smokeless tobacco use are not discussed, but it is important to remember these forms of tobacco are prominent in certain cultures, particularly that of South Asian communities. We have previously reviewed the use of waterpipes 4,5 .…”