Crossword Genius

Things smokers use to protect new teeth (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

fangs

'teeth' is the definition.
(fang is a kind of tooth)

'things smokers use to protect new' is the wordplay.
'things smokers use' becomes 'fags' (fag can informally mean a cigarette).
'to protect' is an insertion indicator.
'new' becomes 'n' (common abbreviation eg NT for New Testament).
'fags' enclosing 'n' is 'FANGS'.

(Other definitions for fangs that I've seen before include "Large pointed teeth" , "Teeth of, say, wolf" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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