Maintaining an effective routine of dental hygiene and in-office care can prevent most serious oral health issues. However, you might be at higher risk for certain oral illnesses due to hereditary factors. Awareness and proper treatment can help minimize these risks. Here are a few common oral health concerns affected by genetics.

Tooth Decay

Tooth decay is one of the most prevalent oral issues, and some of it has been linked to a genetic deficiency of a protein called DEFB1. If your parents experienced a high rate of tooth decay, you may want to be more vigilant about your own dental care.

Oral Cancer

Certain genetic factors can increase your risk of developing oral cancer. Our dentist in Overland Park recommends annual oral cancer screenings for early identification and treatment. Additionally, lifestyle choices like quitting smoking and limiting alcohol consumption can help reduce your risk.

Periodontal Disease

Recent research has found that some forms of gum disease may be linked to mutations in genes affecting immunity and inflammatory response.

Misaligned or Supernumerary (Extra) Teeth

Genetics can play a role in having misaligned or extra teeth. The size of your jaw is determined mostly through heredity, which is a common reason for an overbite, underbite, or dental crowding.

Canker Sores

In most cases, canker sores are an isolated reaction to fatigue, stress, or menstrual cycles. However, certain inherited diseases count canker sores among their symptoms, such as Crohn’s disease and Celiac sprue.

While you may not be able to avoid hereditary oral health issues entirely, Geha Family Dental can help minimize or even reverse their effects with proper treatment and care. If you suffer from any of these inherited conditions, contact our office for an oral health evaluation. We can help.

For more information or to schedule an appointment with our dentist in Overland Park, contact Geha Family Dental today.