It's In Your DNA: What To Know About Inherited Dental Conditions
It's the age-old question, nature or nurture? When it comes to certain dental conditions, there is a chance you can blame your relatives. For a run-down on how genetics can play a part in your dental health, see below.
Forming Habits
The way you were raised can have an enormous impact on the health of your teeth. If your parents put a high priority on dental health, chances are you were instructed on proper brushing techniques and taken to the dentist very early in life. The opposite is also true. Those who grew up without the benefit of good dental hygiene practices may suffer now from several dental issues. If you are a parent, consider instilling good dental habits in your children and setting an example of taking care of your teeth. Your adult child will thank you for it.
Facial Recognition
Do people say you look just like your mom or dad? Having a familial resemblance is taken for granted but dental issues can come along with certain facial features. For example, the size of your mouth determines the size of your gums. That, in turn, determines how crowded or gapped your teeth may appear. Also, noticeably undersized canine teeth are particularly telling signs of an inherited bite. Smaller than normal teeth anywhere in your mouth can be troublesome as they tend to be more fragile and prone to decay issues. If you have an underbite or an overbite, your mother or father probably does too. If one of your parents had to have braces, you might need them also and so may your children.
Cleft Palate
This sort of malformation is a birth defect that can be carried in the DNA. The child is born with the top of their mouth unfused. These days, those deformities are spotted at birth and corrected by surgery as soon as possible after birth. In some cases, children are unable to feed because of the cleft palate. If left alone, children may also suffer from speech difficulties.
Decay Happens Constantly
Some people cannot catch a break. They may take great care of their teeth at home and come regularly for dental exams and cleanings. However, no matter what they do, they get more cavities than they should. If you get more cavities than expected given your good dental habits, you may have inherited decay-prone teeth from a relative. When you have cavity-prone teeth, talk to your dentist about special toothpaste and rinse, being seen more often for cleanings, and special coatings to protect your teeth.
For more info, contact a company like D.R. Dental Clinic.
