Most of your oral health conditions are determined by your dental care, including your teeth cleaning routine and how often you see a dentist. Still, two people with the same routine can still have different numbers of cavities or other dental health concerns. Some conditions are at least partly genetic, and you might be surprised at which ones.

How Do Dental Care Issues Relate to Genetics?

Some of the ways genes affect your oral health are obvious. It's no surprise that issues related to the shape of your mouth, like tooth alignment and jaw joint disorders, tend to run in families. The same goes for defects, such as a cleft palate. Cancer risk is partly determined by the environment and partly by genetics, which is why your doctor asks about your family history, and oral cancer is the same.

However, other problems that we'd usually think of as being caused by poor dental care, such as tooth decay and gum disease, have genetic factors as revealed by studied on identical twins. Scientists haven't yet identified the specific genes responsible, and there may be more than one.

Why Should You Know About These Risk Factors?

If you have a family history of any of these conditions, you need to take extra precautions to preserve your health. You may need to pay closer attention to your dental care routine than the average person, get more frequent oral cancer screenings, and limit other factors, such as tobacco use, to make up for your greater vulnerability.

You should also watch for the signs of these conditions in your children; if you're more susceptible, so are they. Talk to your pediatric dentist about your family's dental health history so they can be prepared to keep a closer eye on your child's mouth and pay extra attention to teaching your child to brush and floss.

For quality dental care for your family that takes your history and needs into account, choose Brandi Prather, DMD, PSC in Somerset, KY. For over 10 years, Dr. Prather has served Pulaski County with friendly, compassionate children's dental care, including exams, treatment, and education. To make an appointment, call (606) 679-5437.