{"id":106,"date":"2019-08-09T12:23:07","date_gmt":"2019-08-09T12:23:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.glastonburysmiles.com\/blog\/?p=106"},"modified":"2026-03-25T16:29:16","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T16:29:16","slug":"can-a-genetic-test-predict-if-youll-get-gum-disease","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.glastonburysmiles.com\/blog\/can-a-genetic-test-predict-if-youll-get-gum-disease\/","title":{"rendered":"Can a Genetic Test Predict if You\u2019ll Get Gum Disease?"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.glastonburysmiles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/AdobeStock_235640676__1568031576_66767.jpg\" alt=\"DNA\" class=\"wp-image-107\" style=\"width:302px;height:169px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.glastonburysmiles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/AdobeStock_235640676__1568031576_66767.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.glastonburysmiles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/AdobeStock_235640676__1568031576_66767-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.glastonburysmiles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/AdobeStock_235640676__1568031576_66767-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>Your DNA says a lot\nabout your health, but maybe it also says more about your gums than you think.\nEveryone knows that too much sugar and not enough brushing leads to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.glastonburysmiles.com\/gum-disease-treatment.html\">gum disease<\/a> in Glastonbury, but could your genes be a factor as well?&nbsp; And is it possible to predict whether you\u2019ll\ndevelop oral health problems through genetic testing? Read on to find out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Can Genetic Testing Tell You About Your Oral Health?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Gum disease is the result of a bacterial infection, and some\npeople are more susceptible to the condition than others even with excellent\noral health care habits. A genetic test involves swabbing your cheeks or\nproviding a saliva sample that\u2019s analyzed in a lab. There, doctors will check\nyour DNA for markers that indicate whether or not you\u2019re at a higher risk for\ngum disease. This knowledge will let you and your dentist know to watch for the\nearly symptoms of gum disease; in many cases, early intervention could be the\nkey to saving your teeth for the rest of your life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can a Test Predict Whether or Not I\u2019ll Get Gum Disease?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Even if you\u2019re found to have the \u201cmarker\u201d for gum disease,\nthat doesn\u2019t necessarily mean you\u2019ll develop it, nor does its absence guarantee\nthat you\u2019ll avoid it. There are many environmental and lifestyle factors that\ncan lead to an infection, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Poor Oral Hygiene: <\/strong>Brushing and flossing<br>are essential for keeping the bacteria in your mouth under control.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Smoking:<\/strong> Tobacco is one of the biggest<br>risk factors in the development of gum disease.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Stress:<\/strong> If your body is under a lot of<br>stress, it\u2019ll have a harder time fighting off infections.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Medication:<\/strong> Anti-depressants, certain<br>heart medications, and oral contraceptives can all have negative side effects<br>for your mouth. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Diabetes:<\/strong> Uncontrolled blood sugar levels<br>make it harder for the immune system to fight against invading bacteria.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Poor Nutrition:<\/strong> A poorly balanced diet<br>can worsen the condition of your gums.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">So How Can I Prevent Gum Disease?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To keep your gums and teeth healthy, the American Dental\nAssociation recommends the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Brush at least twice a day. Use an approved<br>fluoride toothpaste that strengthens the enamel and provides extra cavity<br>protection.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Floss daily; brushing without flossing means you<br>only clean about 60% of the surfaces of your teeth.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Limit the amount of sugary or acidic foods you<br>eat; eat more vitamin-filled fruits and vegetables instead. (Apples and celery<br>stalks are good choices because they can clean the teeth while you chew them.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Have at least two dental checkups and cleanings<br>performed each year.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Your dentist in Glastonbury can give you further tips for\ntaking care of your mouth. Remember: genetic testing is a useful tool, but when\nit comes to protecting your oral health, it\u2019s only the first step!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About the Author<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Treating gum disease, regardless of its stage, is one of the treatment options you can expect at Carroll Family Dentistry LLC. Dr. Carroll and Dr. Yu are here to target bacteria and infection so that you can enjoy better gum health in the years ahead. We&#8217;ll also always provide helpful ways to prevent gum disease. Whether you want to learn how to prevent this type of inflammation or need professional treatment for bleeding and swollen gums, visit our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.glastonburysmiles.com\/contact-us.html\">website<\/a> or call (860) 633-2031.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Your DNA says a lot about your health, but maybe it also says more about your gums than you think. Everyone knows that too much sugar and not enough brushing leads to gum disease in Glastonbury, but could your genes be a factor as well?&nbsp; And is it possible to predict whether you\u2019ll develop oral [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-106","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Gum Disease in Glastonbury | Genetic Testing | Dr. John Carroll<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Does your DNA put you at a higher risk of gum disease in Glastonbury? Here\u2019s what genetic testing can \u2013 and can\u2019t \u2013 tell you about your oral health.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.glastonburysmiles.com\/blog\/can-a-genetic-test-predict-if-youll-get-gum-disease\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Gum Disease in Glastonbury | Genetic Testing | Dr. John Carroll\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Does your DNA put you at a higher risk of gum disease in Glastonbury? Here\u2019s what genetic testing can \u2013 and can\u2019t \u2013 tell you about your oral health.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.glastonburysmiles.com\/blog\/can-a-genetic-test-predict-if-youll-get-gum-disease\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Heim &amp; Carroll DMD, LLC Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2019-08-09T12:23:07+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-03-25T16:29:16+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.glastonburysmiles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/AdobeStock_235640676__1568031576_66767.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"drheim\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"drheim\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.glastonburysmiles.com\/blog\/can-a-genetic-test-predict-if-youll-get-gum-disease\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.glastonburysmiles.com\/blog\/can-a-genetic-test-predict-if-youll-get-gum-disease\/\",\"name\":\"Gum Disease in Glastonbury | Genetic Testing | Dr. John Carroll\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.glastonburysmiles.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.glastonburysmiles.com\/blog\/can-a-genetic-test-predict-if-youll-get-gum-disease\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.glastonburysmiles.com\/blog\/can-a-genetic-test-predict-if-youll-get-gum-disease\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.glastonburysmiles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/AdobeStock_235640676__1568031576_66767.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2019-08-09T12:23:07+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-03-25T16:29:16+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.glastonburysmiles.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/3e7bab33643c1de805abb7bc55315a78\"},\"description\":\"Does your DNA put you at a higher risk of gum disease in Glastonbury? 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