Is It True That Bad Teeth Are Inherited?

“If you look at the representatives of several generations of one family, you can see that the external similarity, character traits and even some habits are inherited. But is this regularity relevant if we are talking about the condition of the teeth? Is it true that not quite straight, not very white and prone to early loss of teeth are caused by genes?"

Reader marieclaire.ru, 35

Expert's answer:

At the disposal of geneticists have accumulated enough data confirming the importance of heredity in matters of beauty, health and functional characteristics of teeth. But they also unequivocally testify: most diseases, pathologies and dysfunctions of the dentoalveolar system are not caused by heredity. However, the genetic factor certainly plays an important role in the context of the tendency to certain diseases and deviations.

Microflora in the mouth

Microflora is represented by hundreds of millions of bacteria, many of which are opportunistic. The balance of bad and good microflora in the mouth directly depends on the composition of saliva. Or rather, from its acidity, the level of which is laid down at the genetic level and is inherited.

If the pH in your mouth does not match the normal values of the microflora in the mouth, do not be upset. Correctly selected toothpaste and mouthwash will not only serve as a good prevention of caries, but also balance the balance of beneficial and harmful bacteria. To buy suitable ones, consult your dentist.

Position, size, shape of teeth

Unnaturally large or, conversely, too small teeth are not considered a pathology, but significant deviations from the standards often cause inconvenience to the owners of such teeth. In most cases, this problem is dictated by heredity.

However, today you can easily align your teeth, change their size, shape and any other physical parameters. For these purposes, dentists have a wide range of equipment and technologies in their arsenal: from computer modeling to laser systems and CAD / CAM systems such as CEREC.

Enamel

The hardness of tooth enamel varies between 250-800 units on the Vickers scale. This indicator, like the indicators of the thickness and shade of the teeth, is determined by heredity. Normally, the thickness of the protective layer on the crown part of the tooth is 1.6-1.7 mm. If the enamel is much thinner, it is fraught with premature abrasion.

At the moment, dentists still do not know how to restore tooth enamel, but have successfully learned to strengthen it artificially (with the help of remineralization and lamination) or replace it with overlays (compiers, veneers, lumineers, crowns). Modern materials, such as porcelain and glass ceramics, are not inferior to natural ones in their operational and aesthetic properties.

Bite

Nature has made sure that the dentition has an optimal position in relation to each other, providing the most effective biting and chewing movements. This location is the bite. When it is wrong, the teeth begin to wear out quickly, so this pathology cannot be ignored.

Periods of teething and tooth loss

Normally, molars begin to replace milk teeth at the age of 5-6 years. If this happens later or earlier within a couple of years (in both directions), doctors consider this to be the norm and do not intervene. As a rule, such changes are due to heredity.

The longevity of teeth depends more on how a person eats, how regularly and correctly he performs oral hygiene. This indicator can be arbitrarily increased. At least for this, you need to visit the dentist at least once every six months to perform a dental check up.

Conclusion:

When it comes to dental health and the beauty of a smile, heredity is very important. However, you should not give it a decisive role. If the appearance or functionality of your teeth is unsatisfactory, it is easy enough to fix it. Today dentists have everything they need for this. Anyone can become the owner of a Hollywood smile, regardless of which teeth you inherited.