Some children are more likely to develop teeth cavities because of environmental factors rather than anything related to their genes, a new study says.
Researchers in Australia examined how genetics can affect the risk of children for teeth cavities. They monitored the development of more than 300 twins, beginning at their 24th week of gestation up to age 6 when they have already had their dental checkups.
By the time the kids reached age 6, 32 percent of them showed signs of tooth decay, while 24 percent already had advanced cavities.
The investigators looked at how often both children developed tooth cavities among siblings with identical genetic variations (identical twins) and those who share some variations (fraternal twins).
They found that both types of twins experience the same likelihood for developing tooth decay or cavities in any form. This suggests that genetics may not influence the risk of children for dental health issues.
"Risk factors seem to be mostly environmental and are potentially modifiable," said Mihiri Silva, a pediatric dentist at the University of Melbourne and lead author of the study.
"This might debunk the idea that individuals are genetically destined to have poor teeth and should drive us to find ways of addressing the risk factors that we know are important for dental health."
Children's Dental Health
Silva and her colleagues sought out to understand how tooth decay impacts the lives of young children. In their report, they noted how 60 to 90 percent of school-age kids around the world already develop problems with their teeth, causing severe pain, infection and even hospitalization.
Toothache has also been linked to poor nutrition and compromised growth and development in children. Some kids have even lost considerable time from school and suffered from poor quality of life.
The researchers saw how tooth cavities in childhood can serve as a primary indicator of poor dental health in adulthood.
Some earlier studies have hinted at the potential role of genetics in causing childhood cavities. However, not much is known about how lifestyle choices or environmental factors can impact the development of tooth decay.
Of the total number of twins examined, 29 pairs showed tooth cavities in both siblings, while 33 pairs had only one child with damaged teeth.
Meanwhile, 26 pairs of twins had advanced cavities in both kids, while 31 pairs showed only one child with the condition.
Environmental Factors For Poor Dental Health
Silva and her team believe three environmental factors that could affect the likelihood of children for cavities:
- Maternal obesity
- Poor fluoridation in community water
- Defects in the mineralization of tooth enamel
The current study did not include any controlled experiments that could have shown how these factors might directly influence childhood tooth decay or cavities.
However, Silva said the obesity of a child's mother could impact their risk for dental health problems because of their shared diet or lifestyle habits.
The presence of fluoride in drinking water can also help lower the likelihood of developing teeth cavities. The problem is not all sources of potable water that are accessible to the public have enough mineral content in them.
Issues with the mineralization of tooth enamel can cause teeth to break easily, leaving them more vulnerable to cavity formations. This can occur as early as when children are still inside their mother's' womb.
Poor nutrition, diseases, and certain medications taken during the mother's pregnancy or during the early life of children can result in problems with enamel mineralization.
The researchers are hopeful that such environmental factors can be controlled to make sure that children's teeth develop normally.
Silva said parents and other family members should practice healthy eating habits, especially those focused on a low-sugar diet, and to brush their teeth regularly to help improve their dental health.
She also recommends having children undergo early dental check-ups as early as one year of age to help avoid possible teeth problems later on in life.
The results of the dental health study are featured in the journal Pediatrics.
