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Epilepsy, Genetics and oral health

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Epilepsy, Genetics and oral health

Epilepsy, Genetics and oral health

Epilepsy and Oral Health

Epilepsy is a disease, in which, nerve cell activity in the brain is distressed causing seizures. During a seizure, a person experiences, unusual behavior symptoms, and sensations. Sometimes it may cause loss of consciousness. Epilepsy may occur as a result of a genetic disorder or from a brain injury, such as trauma or stroke, low oxygen during birth, meningitis.

How is epilepsy related to oral health?

The convulsions in epileptic seizures can cause dental issues. They include bites to the tongue or cheek from teeth, cracked teeth, displacement of a tooth from the socket, TMJ disk dislocation, fractured jaw. Medicines taken for the control of seizures may cause bleeding gums, overgrowth of gums and swelling of the tongue, and ulcerations due to B12 deficiency. Some drugs may interact with vitamin D absorption, which is very much needed for the growth of bones.

The best way to combat these issues is, by practicing excellent oral hygiene, including regular visits to the dentist. Schedule appointments to visit the dentist. If helpful use eye covers, earplugs, and soft music, at your appointment. Make sure your dentist is aware of your epilepsy.

Make sure to let them know, what medications you are taking and if you have had issues, with numbing injections in the past. Inform your dental health provider about all the medicines you are taking.  Tell about your seizure type, frequency, and triggers. Providing past medical history can help to ensure safe and comfortable visits.

Epileptic patients have more missing teeth than usual.  It is quite difficult to get them replaced.  However, as long as your dentist agrees, it is generally beneficial to get your missing teeth replaced.

Genetics and Oral health.

Every cell in the human body contains twenty-three pairs of chromosomes with one chromosome in the pair inherited from each parent. A chromosome is a DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) molecule and it may be a part of the genetic material of an organism. When they replicate chromosomes look like the letter “X”.

In most cases, you can thank your biological parents for your eye color, blood, and your height.

But what about your straight-end bright smile?

Do you have a precise position for problems like gum disease and cavities due to genes?

Yes, genes do play a role in the shape, and structure of your teeth.

Research at the University of Zurich studied mice and determined that the jagged two genes are necessary for healthy teeth development. Without it the tooth crowns were malformed and enamel (an outer shiny layer) was lacking.

Despite following a healthy diet, implementing a good Good oral care routine, and regular dental check-ups you may find that you are still with cavity and gum problems.

Researchers from the Pittsburg school of dental medicine identified the cause of tooth decay and gum disease could be your genetics. After so many researchers, doctor Alexander Vieria found that cavities or gum disease can be due to individual variation in the gene beta-defensin 1, which helps fight germs. In some cases, genes can cause a malfunction of the protein in the enamel (the protective layer of teeth). This can result in teeth that appear yellow-brown gray. The teeth can also break easily due to the defect in the enamel formation and it is called Amelogenesis Imperfecta.

Dis coloration of teeth occurs to a translucent blue-gray or yellow-brown color.  The teeth are weak and are prone to breakage. Both baby teeth and adult teeth can be affected. During tooth development multiple, genes are expressed together to determine tooth type, location, and time of formation and it may lead to the absence of a tooth.

Hence we recommend that for the upcoming oral health care research, an advanced step in resolving multifaceted oral problems by the science, new schemes, and upcoming knowledge from people of other disciplines is mandatory. Also, the unsolved perplexing and varying structural and functional integrity of the human genome still required efficient prophylactic and curative therapies.

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