In contrast, cigarette smoke is more acidic, and the protonated form of nicotine it contains is much less readily absorbed by the oral mucosa. As a result, cigarette smokers must inhale to get their desired quantity of nicotine, whereas cigar smokers can ingest sufficient quantities of nicotine without inhaling. This reduction in inhalation is one of the reasons for the difference in disease risks between cigarette and cigar smokers. However, even those who do not inhale have disease risks higher than those who have never smoked any tobacco product. Another reason for a difference in risk between cigarette and cigar smokers is a difference in the frequency with which the two products are used.
Most cigarette smokers smoke every day.
In contrast, as many as three-quarters of cigar smokers smoke only occasionally, and some may only smoke a few cigars per year. This difference in frequency of exposure translates into lower disease risks. We do not know the risk of addiction posed by cigar smoking. But the difference in smoking patterns suggests a potential difference in addictive properties between cigarettes and cigars. A sizable fraction of today's cigar smokers are current or past cigarette smokers.