A recent British study sheds light on a hidden cost of smoking: accelerated tooth loss. The more cigarettes you smoke daily, the greater the risk, with a clear dose-response relationship. 'We couldn't precisely quantify risk for the lightest smokers, but the data shows undeniable deterioration—even for those smoking just five cigarettes a day,' explains a study researcher to Figaro.
By age 50, non-smoking men retain an average of 27 natural teeth, compared to 25 for light smokers. The gap widens with age and intensity: after 60, non-smokers average 20 teeth, light smokers 12, and heavy smokers just 10. This underscores the urgency of quitting (see How to Quit Smoking) or switching to vaping, which studies suggest is 95% less harmful than smoking (Vaping).
