{"id":39,"date":"2019-05-24T01:20:15","date_gmt":"2019-05-24T01:20:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.endosaratoga.com\/blog\/?p=39"},"modified":"2019-06-24T01:21:58","modified_gmt":"2019-06-24T01:21:58","slug":"endodontist-in-saratoga","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.endosaratoga.com\/blog\/2019\/05\/24\/endodontist-in-saratoga\/","title":{"rendered":"An Endodontist Explains the Link Between Genetics and Oral Health"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"DNAHave you ever known someone who never flosses, eats lots of candy, and yet almost never gets a cavity? Then there are individuals who have excellent oral hygiene habits but still continually need restorative dental care. The reason for such discrepancies may be genetics. In fact, genetics may account for as much as 60% of an individual\u2019s risk for dental problems. As an endodontist in Saratoga explains, there are several ways in which your DNA can determine your susceptibility to tooth decay.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Sweet Preference<\/h2>\n

Lots of people can\u2019t get enough sugar. Whether they\u2019re sipping on soda, licking an ice cream cone, or chowing down on candy, that behavior might be more than a learned habit. Often, genetics determine how likely people are to love sweets. And, of course, the more attracted you are to sugary goods, the more likely you are to develop tooth decay.<\/p>\n

Taste Ability<\/h2>\n

Some folks are genetically coded to be able to enjoy a broad spectrum of different flavors, while others are naturally \u201cpicky eaters.\u201d Scientists have found that people who can enjoy the subtleties of lots of flavors are less likely to experience tooth decay. This may be because they are less likely to eat a lot of sweet goodies, but the exact relationship between taste ability and dental health requires further research.<\/p>\n

Tooth Enamel<\/h2>\n

Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the human body. Sadly, however, some individuals\u2019 tooth enamel isn\u2019t as hard or as thick as it should be. Their DNA simply didn\u2019t bless them with an adequate protective layer for their teeth. Thus, they are more likely to develop cavities.<\/p>\n

Saliva Composition<\/h2>\n

Your saliva is one of your mouth\u2019s best defenses against tooth decay. It rinses away bacteria and food particles, helping to keep your mouth clean. It also contains minerals that fortify tooth enamel and help it to stand up to the rigors of everyday eating and drinking. Due to genetics, however, some people have saliva that is less effective than it should be at protecting teeth.<\/p>\n

Oral Bacteria<\/h2>\n

Various communities of bacteria live throughout your body, including in your mouth. Some types of bacteria are harmless (or even helpful), while other varieties contribute to tooth decay. Your body\u2019s genetically coded response to bacteria in your mouth plays a role in determining your susceptibility to tooth decay.<\/p>\n

Has your DNA made you vulnerable to tooth decay? Avoiding sweets, sticking to a through oral hygiene routine, and regularly visiting your dentist can go a long way toward helping you keep your teeth intact despite your genes. If and when you do develop decay, a filling, crown, or root canal therapy in Saratoga<\/a> may be just what you need to save your damaged tooth and help you maintain a functional, healthy smile.<\/p>\n

About the Author<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dr. An Nguyen is an endodontist in Saratoga who specializes in helping individuals recover from serious dental decay and trauma. If genetics, an accident, or other factors have serious damaged one of your teeth, she may be able to save it via root canal therapy. To learn more about Dr. Nguyen and her services, contact our team<\/a> today.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Have you ever known someone who never flosses, eats lots of candy, and yet almost never gets a cavity? Then there are individuals who have excellent oral hygiene habits but still continually need restorative dental care. The reason for such discrepancies may be genetics. In fact, genetics may account for as much as 60% of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-39","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.endosaratoga.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.endosaratoga.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.endosaratoga.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.endosaratoga.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.endosaratoga.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=39"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.endosaratoga.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":41,"href":"https:\/\/www.endosaratoga.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39\/revisions\/41"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.endosaratoga.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=39"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.endosaratoga.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=39"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.endosaratoga.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=39"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}