What Is Trench Mouth?
5. Risk Factors
Trench mouth most often affects young adults between the ages of 18 and 30. Men are more often affected than women. People who smoke or chew tobacco are much more likely to develop trench mouth than people who do not. Having gingivitis, or having had it in the past, puts a person at risk for developing trench mouth. People who do not brush or floss daily or do not see a dentist on a regular basis may be more susceptible to bacterial overgrowth and a resulting infection.
Trench mouth can also be a complication of an underlying medical condition. In healthy people, the immune system keeps oral bacteria in check. However, conditions that compromise or suppress the immune system, such as diabetes or HIV/AIDS, can allow the bacteria to proliferate.
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