Smokers have less dense bones and fewer teeth.
Women and men who smoke are more slender than their non-smoking counterparts and have a bone density appropriate to their degree of slenderness. As a result, they are more likely to sustain a fracture than their non-smoking counterparts. The lower bone density found in smokers may arise because of less stress and strain imposed on the skeleton by a slim physique. Smokers have poorer oral hygiene and less teeth than their non-smoking counterparts. The relationship between smoking and tooth pathology remains unclear: smoking may either act via a direct mechanism based on the toxicity of tobacco smoke or indirectly through body weight (ie the effect on teeth is part of a wider effect on bone structure).
Department of Chemical Pathology, United Medical School, Guy's Hospital, London.
J D
JD
Johnston
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000150:complications / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000502:physiology; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology