Contrary to what many believe, a recent study of Australian twins has revealed that decay-prone teeth are not inherited.
Tooth Decay & Genes
Let’s briefly summarise this research to see what we have learned:
- Swabs were taken from 485 sets of Australian twins to examine bacteria present in the mouth.
- While this found that some oral bacteria were inherited, it was not the same bacteria that is linked to tooth decay.
- Children that consumed more sugar experienced higher levels of tooth decay bacteria, which lead to acid that erodes and eats away at the teeth.
- However, since tooth decay can be caused by environment, this means that you can control and prevent it with a healthy diet and good oral hygiene.
- Prevention techniques include cutting down on sugar and brushing your teeth at least twice per day.
To read this article in full and find out more about the first major study focused on oral microbiome, visit the ABC website here.
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