One thing patients often question us about is why one person can have a new cavity at every appointment, while another person can go years without seeing any sort of decay. The answer might surprise you, because while your daily hygiene routine is important, it is not the only determining factor in the risk of decay. You genetic makeup determines just over half of your decay risk, so in the fight against cavities, you need to be thinking about more than just flossing and brushing your teeth!
How Genetics Factor
Your genetics are an important part of your oral health. For example, the strength of your tooth enamel is determined by genetics, is as the effectiveness of your saliva. Genetics also determine things like your taste preferences. A sweet tooth will develop more decay faster than someone who prefers lots of different flavors. The big question is what can you do to protect your teeth against your own genetic makeup?
Overpowering Genetics
In the quest to overpower your own weaknesses, you can turn to us. The first step is to determine the cause behind your decay. If you neglect your oral hygiene, then we will know where to begin, but if you have good oral hygiene and still see a large amount of decay, we should look into other possible solutions. Fluoride treatments and dental sealants, for example, can strengthen your teeth so that even with weak enamel, you can protect yourself from decay!
A lot of things go into your ability to ward off decay. Maintaining routine visits and conversations with us can help you prevent decay and create a stronger, healthier smile. Contact us today to get started. We can’t wait to see your smile’s health improve!