We are all products of inherited traits from our parents. These genetic traits can predict to a certain extent how much dental help you may need in the future.
Inheritable Dental Issues
While practicing good oral care such as twice daily brushing and nightly flossing is vital to maintaining your dental health, there are some inheritable dental issues which may require you to seek help from our dentist to overcome them. Some inheritable dental issues are:
- Tooth decay rates – There is the potential to inherit thinner enamel layers from your parents. Having thinner enamel may make you more prone to developing cavities as it takes less effort for bacteria to erode through your enamel.
- Yellow teeth – Along with developing cavities at a faster rate, inheriting thinner enamel layers means you will be more likely to have the yellow dentin below show through, giving your teeth an ivory/yellow-ish appearance.
- Misaligned bites – It is also possible to inherit a misaligned bite from one or both of your parents. When a bite is misaligned, it can cause speech impediments, subconscious teeth grinding to shape out-of-place teeth, and jaw pain.
- Periodontal disease – About 30% of all people are genetically predisposed to develop periodontal (gum) disease. This disease can permanently damage your gums and jawbone as well as kill the nerves in your teeth.
- Bruxism – It is possible to inherit bruxism (teeth grinding) from your parents. Bruxism can weaken your teeth, leaving them prone to chipping, cracking, jaw pain, and cavities.
Just because you may have inherited one or more of these dental problems doesn’t mean you have no control over your dental care. With Dr. Taylor’s help, you can overcome any of these dental issues.
How To Overcome Inherited Dental Problems
Here at our dental office, we offer a variety of dental services to help you overcome any inherited dental problem you may have. Some of our commonly requested services are:
- Dental cleaning – Simply coming in for bi-annual dental cleaning can help catch any dental issues before they become serious problems.
- Veneers – If your teeth are worn down from bruxism or yellow from thin enamel, veneers are an excellent way to give your smile a refresh. Dr. Taylor offers fast, no-prep veneers as well as other veneer options.
- Teeth whitening – Another option to manage discolored teeth is to undergo professional teeth whitening. You can enjoy whiter teeth than leading over-the-counter options can offer, and our whitening treatments are also faster than using a box option.
- Peridontal therapy – If you have inherited a predisposition to periodontal disease, having periodontal therapy can help fight off serious infections. Dr. Taylor can perform various procedures to drastically lower your rate of periodontal disease.
- Dental crowns – Bruxism and deep cavities can leave your teeth without enough material to protect itself. A dental crown can help restore your teeth to help prevent future issues and help correct misaligned bites.
To take control of your dental health, the first step you need to take is to contact us and set up a dental cleaning. Dr. Taylor will be able to identify vulnerable areas and provide treatments to help you manage any genetic dental issues.
