SALIVARY PH, AMONG YOUNG SHISHA SMOKERS IN NASSARAWA LOCAL GOVERNMENT KANO STATE

Shisha smoking is increasingly common among young adults, but its impact on oral physiology, especially salivary pH, is not well studied. Since saliva plays a vital role in maintaining oral health, any alteration in its pH may predispose individuals to dental caries and infections. This study was conducted to assess salivary pH among shisha smokers in Nassarawa Local Government Area of Kano State. A total of 55 participants aged 15–30 years, comprising 35 shisha smokers and 20 non-smokers, were recruited through random sampling. Data on socio-demographics and smoking characteristics were obtained using interviewer-administered questionnaires, while salivary pH was measured using litmus paper. Analysis was performed with IBM SPSS version 20, and independent sample t-test and Chi-square were used, with a significance level set at p ≤ 0.05. The results revealed that the mean salivary pH of shisha smokers (5.86 ± 0.55) was significantly lower than that of non-smokers (6.70 ± 0.47), with a p-value of 0.01, indicating a significant difference. Other parameters such as weight and height also showed significant variation between groups, while BMI did not differ significantly (p = 0.76). These findings suggest that shisha smoking significantly reduces salivary pH, which may increase vulnerability to oral diseases. It is therefore recommended that public health awareness programs target young adults to discourage shisha smoking, alongside preventive oral health measures. In conclusion, shisha smoking has a measurable and significant negative effect on salivary pH, underscoring the need for urgent interventions to mitigate its health risks.