Should dental teams be doing more to make adolescents aware of the health risks of water pipe tobacco smoking (shisha)?

The prevalence of waterpipe tobacco smoking (also known as shisha, hookah, narghile or hubble bubble) is increasing worldwide and is especially popular among adolescents of all cultures, ethnicities and socio-economic backgrounds. This increased prevalence is thought to be due to a number of factors including the relationship between the social aspect of waterpipe smoking and a thriving cafe culture, lack of regulatory or policy framework specific to waterpipe use, the perception of reduced harm and the evolution of social media. This opinion paper discusses the prevalence of shisha use among adolescents, associated risks and oral health conditions and effective shisha cessation interventions. The implications for the dental team are also discussed.