· Unhealthy lifestyle: This can include poor brushing and flossing habits. It can also include such risk factors as smoking, drinking alcohol, excessive sugar consumption, and not drinking enough water.
· Poverty: Most dental procedures, including cleanings, are not covered by medicare. Many people simply cannot afford to pay out of pocket for cleanings, fillings, tooth extractions, and the like, often leading to unhealthy teeth and gums. Furthermore, many people living below the poverty line don’t have access to healthy food options, or even clean water in extreme cases, which may further worsen their oral health.
· Diabetes: People with diabetes are more likely to have oral issues, particularly gum disease, due to decreased blood flow to the gums. Higher blood sugar can also dry out the mouth, allowing bacteria to flourish.
· Some cancers: Many cancers as well as their treatments can cause a host of oral health problems, including dry mouth, thickened saliva, tooth decay, difficulty swallowing, infection, inflammation of the lining of the mouth, and gum disease.
· HIV/AIDS: Because HIV affects the immune system, it can cause many oral health issues, including tooth loss, ulcerative gum disease, dry mouth, gingivitis, canker sores, herpes simplex outbreaks, and oral Kaposi sarcoma (abnormal cancerous tissue growth), among others.
· Osteoporosis: Osteoporosis can cause damage to the jawbone, which supports the teeth. This in turn can result in tooth loss. Loss of bone density in the jaw also leaves the bone more susceptible to bacteria, increasing the risk of periodontal disease.