Tooth decay your fault

THE myth that tooth decay runs in the family has been debunked by researchers, who say it is not genetic but caused by diet and poor oral hygiene.

Researchers, including experts from the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute in Melbourne, looked into the role genes and environment played in the formation of decay.

Like the gut, the mouth is home to thousands of good and bad bacteria that help control the health of the teeth.

Dr Richard Saffery said they found genetics played a key role in determining the type of bacteria in your mouth. However, the bacteria that are regulated by genes are not the ones that cause tooth decay.

“The bacteria that were more likely to be involved in tooth decay they are pretty much driven by your environment.”