Are Oral Health Problems Genetic?

If your parents or siblings have had a mouthful of cavities or frequent issues with their oral health, you may wonder if those problems are genetic or a result of oral hygiene habits. It could actually be a combination of both. Although there is not a specific gene that will determine if your teeth decay or not, chronic conditions, variations in genes, and gene interactions with environment can up your risk for tooth decay and gum disease.

Oral Health Problems in the U.S.

With unlimited access to toothbrushes, toothpaste and dentists in the U.S., it remains a surprise that tooth decay the most “prevalent chronic disease”, according to the National Institutes of Health. Oral health problems are among the top problems Americans face, and many don’t even realize it. However, the statistics don’t lie:

• More than 92% of Americans have tooth decay—or “cavities”—by the time they reach adulthood.
• That 92% figure reflects those between 20 and 64 years old. After age 65, 96% of people have had cavities.
• Tooth decay can actually be considered an “infectious” disease because the decay spreads to other parts of the tooth and mouth if not controlled. However, you can’t spread cavities to another person.
• 42% of children between 2 and 11 have had cavities. About half of those have untreated cavities that continue to grow.
• 26% of adults have untreated decay because they don’t visit the dentist.
• Tooth decay is completely and 100% avoidable if you follow proper oral hygiene guidelines and see your dentist often.
• Gum disease also tops the list of oral health problems, affecting more than 64.7 million adults in the U.S.

Are Oral Health Problems Genetic?

Countless health organizations stress proper oral hygiene guidelines of:

1. Brushing your teeth twice a day for two minutes at a time, using fluoride toothpaste.
2. Flossing 1-2 times a day, making sure to floss up into the gum line and to scrape the teeth to remove plaque.
3. Using fluoride products (gels, toothpastes, foams) to strengthen tooth enamel.
4. Visiting the dentist at least biannually for comprehensive exams and dental cleanings.

If you follow all these guidelines and still get cavities somehow, there may be a genetic component at play. More research is needed on the topic, but so far, published findings by scientists have found genetic factors in certain races and families that make oral health problems more likely. By swabbing the mouths of participants, those who had gum disease or frequent tooth decay showed different gene expressions than those who showed fewer oral health problems.

Gum disease has been shown to happen greater in people of African descent, for example. Families where cardiovascular disease is common may also show more frequency with gum disease complications. Some families may express genes—such as the G-20A copy—that puts them at 5 times the risk for tooth decay. The FAM5C gene shows up more frequently in those with gum disease. Your genes could heighten your risk for oral health problems or even issues with weak tooth enamel or bad breath. However, your habits are the main factors that play a role in your risk for problems.

Facts and Figures

There have been many studies to see just how often people brush their teeth. Overall, the finding show that they don’t brush enough. Google reported that only about 56.8% of women and 49% of men brush their teeth twice a day. Some may brush more than that, while others only brush once or go days between brushing their teeth. Millennials are showing trends of being the worst at brushing their teeth. 3 in 10 millennials brush their teeth once a day. The average person in this age group has gone 2 or more days at a time without brushing their teeth.

Full-blown adults aren’t much better either. Studies show that 6 in 10 adults fear going to the dentist. That is why only about 65% of adults visit the dentist in a 12-month period. The American Dental Association recommends that every person visit the dentist twice a year (at least) for exams and cleanings. Dental visits and habits like brushing and flossing the teeth are the best ways to avoid oral health problems that would eventually make your teeth fall out.

Habits Can Be Contagious

Even though oral health problems can have a genetic component, the habits that are passed around in families are the most likely thing to determine your oral health. If your parents don’t brush their teeth or go to the dentist, you may not either. If cavities are no big deal, you may not worry about seeing a dentist for discolored or hurting teeth. If one person eats tons of sugar on a daily basis, there is a much greater chance that you will do the same. The opposite is also true.

If you brush and floss your teeth every single day, twice a day, your children will see those habits and will know they are important. If rules are set in place for children to do those habits, they will happen. Teaching children when they are young to take care of their teeth can help them to take care of their teeth as they grow. Establishing dental visits and going to them will show that the dentist is important in preventing oral diseases. Make sure you have great oral hygiene habits and that you help others in your home have them to. It’s the best way to avoid oral health problems and disease.

Avoid Oral Health Problems

The best way to fight a disease is to prevent it in the first place. Brushing and flossing are the top habits you can have to avoid oral diseases and they are so easy to do! So is visiting the dentist. Want to break out of the cycle of teeth and gum problems? You can! Call Stonebrook Family Dental today at (303) 872-7907 for your comprehensive exam and to learn how to avoid oral health problems!