Every cell in the human body consists of 23 pairs of chromosomes, and each has one from our parents. Each chromosome contains thousands of DNA gene sequences, some of which are active or expressed while others are dormant. Whether a gene will be expressed or not is established by factors including time, the environment, and cell type. The control of gene expression is vital for the progress and physical development of a person. While your parents may give you things like eye color or height, you could have also gotten dental problems.
Yes – even dental problems can run in the family. It is not only due to bad habits you learn as a child. Many oral health conditions develop from a genetic basis, and these often cannot be controlled with good oral hygiene habits. So, knowing your family’s health history is crucial.
What can you do?
While genetic testing may potentially help you predict future oral health problems, but your dentist can help you during your exam. X-rays and other procedures are some of the best ways to understand our current oral health status and help us with what may be coming in the future.
It important that you have an active role in preventing dental disease and keep your mouth healthy. If you are interested in learning more about how you can improve your oral hygiene, schedule an appointment today with Foothill Dental Care in Livermore to get started on your journey to a healthy mouth.