Dental News - Study finds genetic make-up has little impact on oral health

Dental Tribune International

Wed. 8. May 2019

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MELBOURNE, Australia: The idea that oral health comes down to genetics can be a damaging one. According to authors of a recent study, which followed the oral health of twins from birth to age 6, there is no link, and the idea that there is can prevent people from changing their damaging oral health habits.

Led by Dr Mihiri Silva from the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, the study followed 173 sets of twins, identical and non-identical. “How genetics impacts on dental health has not often been studied. This is the first twin study that looks at both genetics and early life risk factors, such as illness and lifestyle.”

According to Silva, the study’s results found that identical twins—with identical genomes—had varying degrees of dental caries. “This means that environmental factors, like a lack of fluoride in water, seem to be the prime cause of cavities not genetic make-up,” she explained.

Despite genetics not playing a role in oral health, the study did reveal a link between the mother’s health and lifestyle during pregnancy and the child’s future dental health, with obesity in pregnancy a definite marker for increased risk of childhood caries. “Perhaps the mother’s weight has a biological influence on the developing foetus or perhaps the risk of decay rises because of increased sugar consumption in that household,” hypothesised Silva.

Another concerning result to come out of the study was the estimation that one in three Australian children have caries by the time they start school. With the 2011 Victorian Department of Health and Human Services statistics showing that more than 26,000 Australians under the age of 15 are admitted to hospital to treat caries every year, the estimation may not be too far off.

“Our findings also reinforce how important it is for paediatricians and other health professionals to educate children to start preventive measures early in life, prior to the onset of damage to dental tissues,” concluded Silva.

The study, titled “Genetic and early-life environmental influences on dental caries risk: A twin study”, was published in the May 2019 issue of Pediatrics.

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