Most people believe that tooth decay and gum disease happen mainly because of eating too much sugar or not brushing often enough.
While these habits are very important, a large new study suggests there is another piece of the puzzle. Our genes may also help determine how healthy our teeth and gums stay throughout life.
Tooth decay and gum disease are among the world’s most common health problems. Tooth decay happens when acids made by bacteria slowly wear away the hard surface of the teeth, creating cavities. Gum disease develops when bacteria cause long-lasting swelling and irritation of the gums, which can eventually damage the bone that supports the teeth.
For many years, researchers noticed that some people seem to develop cavities easily despite having good dental habits. Others appear to have fewer problems even though they do not always take the best care of their teeth. These differences suggested that inherited genes might affect oral health.
To investigate this question, researchers from Umeå University in Sweden carried out one of the largest studies ever performed on dental health. They combined information from nine health studies involving about 62,000 people and also analyzed data from the UK Biobank, which contains health records from around 461,000 volunteers.
The scientists compared millions of small differences in DNA with information about people’s teeth, gums, health, and daily habits. This allowed them to identify genetic changes that were more common in people with tooth decay or gum disease.
The study uncovered 47 previously unknown genes linked to tooth decay. The researchers also confirmed that an important immune system gene plays a role in gum disease. The findings suggest that many different biological processes help determine a person’s risk of dental problems.
Some of these genes influence how teeth and jaw bones develop. Others affect the amount and quality of saliva. Saliva is important because it washes away food, keeps the mouth moist, and helps reduce harmful acids produced by bacteria.
The researchers also found that genes can affect the types of bacteria living in the mouth. Many mouth bacteria are harmless or even helpful, but when the balance changes, harmful bacteria can grow more easily. These bacteria produce acids that damage teeth and toxins that irritate the gums.
Gum disease was also closely linked to the immune system. If the body’s defense against bacteria is too weak, infection can spread. If the immune response is too strong, it can damage healthy gum tissue, leading to long-term problems.
The study also showed that people with risk factors for heart disease, including smoking, obesity, and an unhealthy diet, often had poorer dental health as well. This supports growing evidence that the health of the mouth is closely connected with the health of the rest of the body.
Although genes play an important role, healthy habits remain the best way to protect your teeth. Brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, cleaning between the teeth, limiting sugary foods and drinks, staying hydrated, avoiding smoking, and visiting the dentist regularly can greatly reduce the risk of dental disease.
The researchers believe their findings could eventually lead to more personalized dental care, with prevention plans based on a person’s genetic risk. The study was led by Ingegerd Johansson and published in Nature Communications. It shows that both our genes and our daily choices work together to shape our oral health.
If you care about tooth health, please read studies about an important causes of tooth decay and gum disease, and common tooth disease that may increase risks of dementia.
For more health information, please see recent studies about mouthwash that may increase your tooth damage, and results showing this diet could help treat gum disease.
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