Gingivitis is a genetic disorder?
Scientists are suggesting the gingivitis may not solely be caused by poor oral hygiene it; it might be down to your genes instead.
Gingivits affects more than half of the adults in the US and researchers from the University of North Carolina (UNC) and Procter & Gamble Oral Care (P&G), who make crest and Oral-B, believe that genes have a part to play in the onset and healing of the symptoms of the disease.
Dr Steven Offenbacher, lead author of the study and director of UNC’s Center for Oral and Systemic Diseases, said that findings demonstrated symptoms of gingivitis were reflected in molecular and cellular process changes in the body.
According to the study around 30 per cent of the genes contained in the human body, that is more than 9,000 genes, change when gingivitis is present.
Boffins discovered that biological pathways, which are linked to activating the immune system, are also control the body’s reaction to plaque build-up in the mouth.
Symptoms of gingivitis include swollen, red, bleeding and tender. Untreated gingivitis can cause periodontal disease, which has been linked to heart disease and diabetes.
Researchers believe that a greater understanding how gingivitis develops at a molecular level can help prevent and develop better treatments for gum disease.
Dr Leslie Winston, first-of-a-kind-study co-author and P&G’s director of professional and scientific relations, said that the team planned to conduct more research to attempt to identify gum disease biomarkers so that better treatments could be developed.
Join this Discussion