Gum Disease Test

Reports that high cholesterol gives us a two-and-a-half times greater chance of getting heart disease caused many of us to cut the fat from our diet. What would you do if you found out one of your genes was giving you a six times greater chance of getting gum disease? Now there’s a way to find out before it’s too late.

Like Laurie you have the best intentions. You floss and brush twice a day, only to hear your dentist say, “There’s some tissue destruction.”

Don’t blame yourself. Those bad x-rays may be mom and dad’s fault. Turns out 30 percent of us carry a gene that causes gum disease.

If they’re susceptible, their relatives may also be susceptible. And if we can find people who are susceptible to periodontal disease prior to them actually having the destruction, we might be able to prevent it.

Easy enough. It’s right there in your blood. With a prick of the finger periodontists can now tell if you carry the gene for gum disease.

Laurie, “I’m the oldest of seven, and five of us have had periodontal treatment.”

There’s a good chance Laurie carries the gene. Those who do are more sensitive to plaque and less able to fight off bacteria that accumulates on our teeth.

If you’re one of those people who has a super response to plaque, you’re going to get a lot of inflammation, and if you get a lot of inflammation, you’re going to end up with gum disease.

If it’s in your genes you have a six times greater chance of developing severe gum disease. But with this new test you can catch it early enough to save not only your smile, but your children’s as well.