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Showing posts from October, 2017

Genetics vs Environment Article by Dr. Cindy

“I Have Soft Teeth Like My Mom” Are your teeth susceptible to tooth decay due to your genetic makeup or to your environmental influences? Let’s take a quick look at both sides: Genetics It is well known that you are made up of DNA from both of your parents, and as a result you inherit certain traits from each of them! Perhaps you have your mom’s eyes and your dad’s chin…and perhaps one of your parent’s genes dominates what your teeth are shaped like from the outside, and the other how they are constructed from the inside. But how does that really affect you? Let’s take a look at the anatomy of a tooth. Your teeth are made up of layers:  Enamel is the hard, outer shell; Dentin is the yellow, middle layer; the Pulp chamber is the pink and red inner core of your teeth where the nerve and blood supply reside. The mineral-rich enamel is the first and outer line of defense against decay, protecting your teeth from the surrounding acids. Teeth resist decay fr