The prevalence of edentulism was 15% among current smokers compared with 7% among those who had never smoked. In the dentate population, current smokers were less likely to have visited a dentist in the past 3 years and more likely to report sensitivity of teeth, tooth ache in the previous month, pain in the mouth or face and social limitations because of teeth. When age, sex, household income and dental insurance were controlled in a multivariate logistic regression model, current smokers and former smokers had higher odds of reporting oral–facial pain than people who had never smoked. Prevention of smoking onset and support for cessation of smoking could contribute to improved oral health status.