How Genetics Play a Role in Teeth Health

Beautiful woman smile. Dental health care clinic.

Studies have proven that genes do have some role in the outcome of dental health. It’s a known fact that genes are the ultimate template of our personality and appearance, and the teeth and gums are not exempted from this. What did your mother and father pass on to your teeth when you were conceived?

Characteristics of Teeth Commonly Affected by Genes

The dental traits mostly affected by genes are:

1. Enamel. The thickness of the enamel can be dictated by your genes. Thinner enamels are more susceptible to decay.
2. Alignment. The crooked teeth of your dad may as well be the reflection of your teeth when you grow up. Apart from crookedness, the entire jaw formation and alignment is also affected by the genes.
3. Wisdom teeth. If your parents have wisdom teeth, your chances of having them is high. Likewise, if your parents have the mutation that eliminates wisdom teeth from dental development, you also have a higher chance of not having wisdom teeth.
4. Saliva. The saliva is the body’s natural defense against bacteria and tooth decay. The genetic makeup of every individual can affect how strong or weak saliva is in fighting bacteria.

Should I Let My Genes Dictate My Oral Health?

Of course not! Your genes are only one part of you, but they don’t define who you are. You have the free will to decide whether you want to have healthy teeth or not. Sure, it may require extra effort if your are genetically predisposed to have bad teeth, but all the effort will be worth it in the end. You will be able to reap the benefits of good dental health later in life, when you don’t need to wear dentures while most of your friends already do.

Here are some ways you can defeat your genes and keep your teeth and gums healthy:

1. Practice optimal oral hygiene. There’s nothing that can’t be solved by good oral hygiene. Brush your teeth twice a day, floss in between brushes, use an antiseptic mouthwash and avoid acidic foods that can erode your tooth enamel. If you need more tips and instructions, our dental team will be more than happy to give you some pointers in proper dental care.
2. Visit our clinic regularly. All Smiles Dental is open Mondays to Thursdays. You can easily set an appointment with our staff to get a dental examination. Visiting our clinic at least once every six months will ensure that you don’t have the early signs of gum disease and your teeth are in top shape. If you do have dental problems, we will be able to fix them right away if you come into the clinic regularly.
3. Avoid sweets and sugary beverages. Sweets are the worst foods for your teeth, but sugary beverages and sodas in particular have a very destructive effect on teeth because they can get into the nooks and crannies of your teeth. This increases the risk of acquiring tooth decay and gum disease because bacteria can thrive even in the areas not easily reached by brushing.
4. Get all the fluoride you can. Fluoride is the only answer to strengthening your teeth. While calcium, magnesium and other minerals needed by the teeth are already present in our daily diet, fluoride needs to be obtained from an external source. The best sources of fluoride include tap water, toothpaste and dental applications. You can visit our clinic to get a fluoride treatment every six months.

Genes don’t need to be your reason to have poor teeth. On the contrary, once you have figured out that your genes have predisposed you to have unhealthy teeth, you must take action and get proper treatment immediately. At All Smiles Dental, we pay great attention to your overall dental health, including your genes and family history. If you would like to get a dental appointment scheduled, just give us a call at 803-602-3880. Our dental staff will be more than happy to assist you.

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Five Ways Dentists Can Protect the Environment

As with any business, particularly a healthcare facility, dental offices have their own recycling challenges. Finding ways to reduce and reuse waste is not always possible, but every effort is made toward that goal. Medical wastes and toxic wastes, which are both part of everyday life in a dental facility, present further challenges than standard office wastes

Dental offices handle a variety of waste types. Five of those include non hazardous material, sharps, biomedical wastes, mercury substances and lead-based products. Each type of waste poses different environmental and health concerns, and different steps are used for each type of waste material.

Non-hazardous wastes

When considering recycling and reducing waste, non-hazardous material, such as paper, corrugated, aluminum and plastics are at the top of the list. The best solution is to reduce whenever possible and properly recycle the rest. In some cases, additional steps must be taken, such as with confidential documents, which should be placed in specially marked containers, and confidential document disposal professionals should be contacted for removal.

Sharps

Dental offices use sharp instruments. If you have ever had a dental treatment that required an area of your gums be numbed, then chances are great you have experienced examples of some of the sharp instruments used. These instruments must be eliminated appropriately to protect environmental concerns as well as people from the hazards these tools pose. Special containers are used for proper disposal of disposable sharp objects.

Biomedical Wastes

Biomedical waste contains items that include bodily fluids like blood. Dental staff can double bag these items in a biomedical waste bag and label properly. They can be refrigerated until removal by a biomedical waste professional.

Mercury-Containing Wastes

One of the biggest culprits for dental mercury wastes is through the use of amalgam fillings. Dental amalgams are used for fillings in teeth. They are the ‘silver’ colored fillings that have been used for more than 150 years. While amalgams have been deemed as safe for use in dental fillings, the mercury contained within them can pose environmental concerns if any scraps or vapors are not properly disposed.

Unused mercury material can be stored in air-tight containers until a certified biomedical waste management professional can be contacted for disposal. However, sometimes accidents happen in the office. If mercury is spilled, mercury spill kits are available for staff. This basically eases cleanup by forming scrap amalgam that can then be recycled. Above all, elemental mercury as well as amalgam materials should never be washed down the drain or placed in the garbage.

Lead-Containing Wastes

Mercury isn’t the only potentially toxic material that is used in dental offices. Oral X-ray packets contain a lead foil inside. Dental offices also use lead aprons. Since high levels of lead can be toxic to people as well as to the environment, proper steps are taken to manage this type of waste. Waste items containing lead should be handed to commercial waste professionals and not thrown in the trash.

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