The Tooth Fairy has gotten quite the reputation over the years, but she isn’t real, right? Well, maybe not … at least not in the way we traditionally think of her. A new study published in JMA Genetic Epidemiology suggests that there may be a genetic link to good teeth. Find out what this new study means for your family dental history and whether it could mean more money in your wallet every time you lose a tooth!
The study's findings
The study, conducted by researchers from the University of Colorado School of Medicine and published in the American Journal of Medical Genetics, looked at dental records from more than 12,000 twins. The researchers found that genes play a significant role in how well kids keep their teeth clean and reduce the risk of cavities. They also found that children with parents who have healthy teeth are more likely to grow up with them as well. Some say this is because genetics may be passed on through saliva or milk when an infant is nursed. Others speculate that there's an inherited tooth-producing gene—sort of like a tooth fairy gene—that can't be seen on x-rays. Researchers have yet to find it, but they're continuing to search for answers about whether this tooth fairy gene really exists.
How the study was conducted
Researchers studied the teeth of more than 2,000 pairs of twins and found that identical twins had similar levels of dental health, whereas fraternal twins were much more likely to have different levels of tooth decay. They believe that genetics plays an important role in developing good oral hygiene habits.
The study was conducted on more than 2,000 pairs of twins from around the world. One set, known as identical or monozygotic twins, came from one egg and sperm. These sets of twins share 100% of their genes. Another set, known as fraternal or dizygotic twins, comes from two eggs and two sperm and is not genetically related at all. For the purposes of this study, researchers looked at the rates of dental cavities between these sets of twins to determine if there was any correlation with genetic makeup.
What the experts say
If you have good teeth, then there is an increase in the likelihood that your child will have good teeth, said Dr. Giorgio Tarsitano, oral surgeon and researcher at McGill University in Montreal. But if you have bad teeth, it doesn't mean that all of your children are going to get bad teeth. We know genetics only plays a part, he says. There's no one tooth fairy gene. The most important thing for kids to do for their teeth is not to brush them too often and limit sugary drinks and snacks, he added.
What this means for you
Despite the fairy tales, it's not always the case that bad teeth run in families. In fact, a recent study found that some people may be genetically predisposed to better oral health. The study found that while genetics do play an essential role in tooth decay, it is not the only factor that affects our teeth. Factors such as diet and socioeconomic status also play a critical role in dental health. So don't let your family history of tooth decay stop you from taking good care of your teeth!
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