Caring for your oral health can be a complex matter. It is possible for you to stay on top of all the essentials for good oral health – brushing, flossing, eating a healthy diet, and going to routine appointments – and still experience some problems with your teeth and gums. Why is this? The answer is that there is a connection between oral health and your family history. Decay, gum disease, and other oral issues can be impacted by heredity. 

Decay

Have you ever met an adult with zero cavities? Do you know someone who takes excellent care of their oral health but still regularly gets cavities? These are two extremes that show how family history can impact your oral health. It is possible that the person with zero cavities took perfect care of his or her teeth throughout childhood and into adulthood. The more likely scenario is that the person has good genetics when it comes to oral health. He or she may have other family members who enjoy the same good fortune. People who still get cavities despite taking excellent care of their oral health likely have a family history of oral health problems. There is nothing you can do to change your genetics when it comes to your oral health. No matter where you fall on the spectrum, however, you need to make brushing, flossing, and routine dental visits a regular part of your routine. If you are prone to cavities, your dentist may recommend certain products to help strengthen and protect your teeth. 

Gum disease

Gum disease is another oral issue that can be impacted by family history. Gum disease can impact anyone but there are some people who are more prone to developing the condition. Typically, gum disease can be prevented with a quality oral hygiene routine that includes brushing, flossing, and going to preventative dental appointments. If you do all of those things and still have issues with gum disease, it may be that your genetics make you more susceptible to it. Work closely with your dentist to determine if you are doing everything you can to keep gum disease at bay. If you are, and your efforts are unsuccessful, your dentist may recommend a prescription rinse to fight off gum disease. 

Other oral issues

Other oral issues like crooked teeth, an underbite, and impacted wisdom teeth can all be related to your family history. For example, if you and your spouse both needed braces it is highly likely that your own children will have misaligned teeth as well. There is nothing you can do to prevent these issues. However, seeing the dentist regularly is a way to identify issues early on and address them as soon as possible. 

There is a connection between oral health and family history. There is nothing you can do to change your family history. You can, however, take extra precautions against oral issues if you know that your genetics make you prone to developing certain problems. Talk to your dentist about your family history to determine if there is anything extra you should be doing to protect your oral health.