BIRMINGHAM, England, Sept. 14 (UPI) -- People who smoke cigarettes have an increased risk of losing their teeth, researchers in a new study found, because it can mask the effects of periodontitis and make gums look more healthy than they are.
While it can be harder to spot, researchers said gum disease and tooth loss are among the first serious effects smoking can have on health, with heavy smokers being at greater risk for tooth loss than lighter smokers. Men were found to be more than 3 times as likely to lose their teeth from smoking, and women twice as likely, when compared with nonsmokers in the study.