How’s this for a raw deal: pregnancy can increase the risk of tooth decay before or even after the birth, the bacteria responsible can be passed on to the baby creating dental issues for them later in life. Among the litany of tooth decay facts, there’s even a link to caesarian sections and tooth decay. Cavities are a communicable disease, and if you’re among the 2 billion adults worldwide who’s ever had one, you probably got it from your mother.

Like mothers don’t get blamed enough.

Then there’s genetics. It’s hard enough to make a choice in terms of partner suitability, and prodigy outcome possibilities, then genetics kicks all that emotional stuff aside and chooses for you.

Some people do everything they should when it comes to their oral health. They brush properly, they adhere to the (still debatable) value of flossing, they eat decent food, they see their dentist. And yet, they get cavities.

According to a 2019 study, there are a number of genes that determine an oral health baseline. Researchers found that certain chromosomes dictate the formation and shape of the teeth. Grooved surfaces are more susceptible to harbouring bacteria, which is why the pits, crannies and multiple roots of molars and premolars are most prone to cavities.

Along with this are the congenital dictates of saliva – so just when you figured everyone’s spit was pretty much the same, it isn’t. Which bacteria are most likely to take up residence on your teeth has a hereditary factor. Even before you’re born, there are pre-determinants affecting your chances of tooth decay.

It certainly doesn’t mean that being dealt a genetic bad hand makes good oral health habits reasonably pointless – logically, it’s quite the opposite. Prioritising a great relationship with your dentist goes a long way in the prevention stakes, no matter what the coding of your DNA.

Genetics of course, is a fascinating thing. Particularly in light of the recent death of the world’s oldest person at 117 years (plus 5 months, 2 weeks and one day, to be precise.)

American-born Spaniard Maria Branyas Morera was born in San Francisco in 1907, her journalist father started a Spanish magazine and when it went bankrupt, the family was in dire straits.

Having to return to Spain, her father died of tuberculosis onboard ship. Maria was 29 when the civil war broke out, and lived through Franco’s ensuing and brutal regime. Not only did she also retain vivid recollections of the D-Day Normandy landings, she had an X account. “Super Catalan Grandma” embraced social media and although she didn’t smoke, in an interview just a few days after her last birthday said, “I haven’t done anything special to get to this age.”

Researchers studying her longevity would disagree. As a survivor or hardship and war, it’s thought that struggle gives advantage.

The study found that her genes were protective of her DNA; that her cells aged much slower than her biological age. Having low levels of fat and sugar in her blood likely had some link to her Catalan diet and when she was once asked by a doctor what she expected from life, her dry response was, “Death.”

Movingly, within the week before she died she said to her family, “One day I will leave here. I will not try coffee again, nor eat yoghurt, nor pet my dog. I will also leave my memories, my reflections, and I will cease to exist in this body. One day – I don’t know, but it’s very close – this long journey will be over.”

Although Branyas herself believed her exceptionally long life was due to “order, tranquility, good connection with family and friends, contact with nature, emotional stability, no worries, no regrets, lots of positivity and staying away from toxic people” the reality is that science is still trying to quantify what has some people live beyond a hundred.

So far, there are two theories and they’re not mutually exclusive.

The first, which doesn’t sound very scientific at all, is that some people are just lucky. (If you consider being in the position of not trying blowing out a hundred candles ‘lucky’ since it’s never been attempted for fire safety and dignity reasons; and if a telegram from the King is a long-term life goal, pun intended.)

Within this vagary lies ‘survivor bias’ – an error in logic wherein any identifiable habits of a centenarian doesn’t necessarily give credence. A shot of whisky and smoking 20-a-day doesn’t mean that that’s the answer to living longer. Being older than most old people doesn’t make you drop so-called ‘bad’ habits either; apparently the majority of super-uber-elders have them.

Why not? Whatever you’re doing hasn’t killed you yet.

With viability that should simply wipe out that first hypothesis, the second theory is that specific genetic features equip these people to be impressively robust human beings.

The snapshot of that being two of Maria Banyan Morera’s three children are still alive, aged 91 and 82. So there’s two generations of a lot of Mother’s Day presents to not double-up on.

Identifying the genes that have such a role in longevity goes beyond social interest and research funding. Ultimately it’s about designing drugs that mimic those neucolic actions so we’ll all have the opportunity to live longer. Aside from maybe asking King Charles III about that, climate issues, the gaping wound between the haves, the have-nots and the newly emerging will-never-haves, along with the rise of drug-resistant pathogens and the worldwide collapse of quality healthcare, it seems that nobody’s asked the fundamental question of why we want to be doing that in the first place.

Especially if you don’t have the best oral health.

With the major determinant being genetics, the other impacting factor beyond someone’s control is the unavoidable necessity of certain medications in the management of (usually) chronic conditions. Diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, GERD, and eating disorders are the most common of these. Radiation treatment to the head, neck and face as well as chemotherapy can soften the actual tooth structure which increases the vulnerability for caries.

Being able to mitigate, and possibly even avoid the dental effects of prescriptions can only happen by letting your dentist know the health challenges you’re having. It may feel a little uncomfortable but physically, emotionally and financially, damaged teeth feel much worse. Honestly, for the most part your dentist will be able to tell anyway.

Dealing with compromised health takes amazing strength and stamina – there’s no point wasting any of that on keeping a secret from a professional who’s there to help. Without doubt, there’s power in the knowledge that comes from collaboration.

Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, the University of North Carolina’s Adams School of Dentistry and Gillings School of Global Public Health can absolutely attest to that.

Their 2024 combined research identified for the very first time, a second and very significant bacteria in the cause of cavities.

For a long time, scientists had previously believed that Selenomonas sputigena was only a problem for people suffering gum disease. But this new study shows that this bacteria teams up with Streptococcus mutans and makes the systemic process of tooth decay even worse.

S. sputigena found in the plaque of children with cavities revealed that this bacteria doesn’t cause tooth decay but works in partnership with S. mutans which creates sticky structures in the dental biofilm from sugar, trapping S. sputigena.

It thrives below the gum line in anaerobic environment – so once it’s stickily trapped, S. sputigena grows rapidly. It forms protective layers that help S. mutans flourish, produce more acid, and the result is more severe tooth decay.

Understanding how a bacteria manages exist on the tooth surface when it’s typically found only in places without oxygen, gives insight into the true interactions of oral microbiome. It opens the way to finding new, preventative strategies for cavities to disrupt this protective arrangement, whether via some anti-pathogenic agent, or innovative brushing equipment or technique.

There’s a world of tooth decay in the world. Billions of people have it, have had it or will have it. While you could blame your mother, better that you thank her for the millions of other things she’s done for you.

Paying attention to the general state of your teeth and mouth along with what you put in there, favour the odds of you not being a cavity casualty. Sugar in its many, many forms, constant snacking and foods that require very little chewing are part of the usual suspects pack that guarantees compromised wellbeing overall, and it all starts in your mouth.

Fundamentally, practice good, regular, proper, effective oral hygiene habits. Brushing harder doesn’t clean better, and if your teeth look okay it doesn’t mean they are. Know that it’s a fallacy that you can have, and maintain good oral health without seeing a dentist.

If a lifetime of positive thinking helps you get to old age, you want to have your own teeth when you get there. Otherwise all the stories you’ll have will be much harder to tell.

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Note: All content and media on the Bacchus Marsh Dental House website and social media channels are created and published online for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice and should not be relied on as health or personal advice.

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