Some dental practices send cards and others leave a voicemail reminding you that it is time for your checkup. You dread it because nobody likes having hands stuck in their mouth while being asked questions you clearly cannot answer. The most frightening moment comes when the dentist starts examining each tooth and stops and pokes a hole in one of them. You know what’s coming: you have a cavity. You kick yourself for eating all that candy and forgetting to brush your teeth last week. But have you ever wondered why some people get more cavities than others? It may not have anything to do with your dental hygiene, but rather with your genetics.
Everything in our bodies work the way they do because of our genetic makeup. Unsurprisingly, research has shown that a significant percentage of tooth decay is caused by genetic factors. Tooth enamel (the thin, outer covering) forms when we are in utero until we have reached our first birthday. The enamel will degrade over time, but faster for some than others. Furthermore, the genetic makeup of our saliva impacts how strong our enamel will be. Depending on your genes, saliva can actually degrade your enamel faster than normal.
Have you ever heard the phrase “it runs in the family”? Well lucky (or unlucky) for you, this is not the case for our teeth. While your brother may get cavities every 6 months without eating a bite of sugar, we can walk out of the dentist problem free and drink soda once a day. The genetic makeup of our teeth is individualistic, meaning it is not defined by resemblances that we may otherwise have with others sharing similar genes.
Now, this does not mean that if you have good dental genes you do not have to practice proper dental hygiene. Steering clear of sugar (especially those gummies that stick to your teeth) and brushing twice a day will help avoid dental problems. But taking a look at your dental history, you can be pretty confident at what your teeth will look like in the future. If you have good dental genes, you will likely incur less problems. If you have bad ones, make sure to visit your dentist regularly to prevent small problems from getting worse. But if you do wait too long and you need a tooth removal, quality dental labs use state-of-the-art technology that can still save your smile.
If you’ve got cavity already, relax and stop blaming yourself. Simply go to the best cavity removal lab around you. When I say the best, I mean professionals with track records. Come to Ultimate Dental Lab for the best cavity removal treatment, quickly call or visit us at 150-28 Union Turnpike Flushing, NY 11367 Office: 718.591.3444
