I am 44. my health is okay but i am in a wheelchair. i have been dairy free without calcium supplementation for over a year. i have started getting cavities all of a sudden. is osteoporosis highly likely at this point? my mom has it.

Bacteria: Probably more due to shift in your oral bacteria than osteoporosis. Floss daily and start chewing xylitol gum. All cavities need to be filled or sealed gum that has xylitol as the first sugar listed will help shift your oral bacteria to less cavity causing population. You just need to take time to ramp up up consumption over 6 weeks to 6 pieces per day. Sudden full dose can cause GI upset.

Multifactorial: 3 main factors affect your risk for cavities, diet, oral hygiene, and microflora/saliva in the mouth. Osteoporosis won't have a significant direct impact on your caries risk. Yes ca is the main ion in hydroxyapatite, the main mineral in teeth. But osteoporosis, or a calcium deficiency, won't remove tooth structure you already have. There is likely another reason do you sudden dental caries.

Possibly: Really two separate things. Being in a wheelchair without regular weight bearing and low calcium intake may put you at increased risk for osteoporosis. Cavities are usually not related to osteoporosis, although some component of dental disease can occur if the bone quality of the mandible becomes severely affected. Consider a bone density test to check for osteoporosis. Thanks for question.