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Gingivitis: The Genetic Connection between Gum Disease, Inflammation, and Overall Health

Key takeaways:
~ Gingivitis is caused by inflammation in your gum tissue.
~ Bacteria in the mouth causes the inflammation in the gums. Brushing and not smoking help to decrease inflammation.
~ Gum disease and oral health are linked to overall health, including heart disease and neurodegenerative diseases.
~ Genetic variants play a big role in how much inflammatory response you will have in the mouth.  Targeting the right genes may help with gum disease.

What is Gingivitis?

Have you ever gone to the dentist, expecting a good report, only to be fussed at by the hygienist for bleeding gums? You brushed, flossed, and stayed away from candy for the past six months — so why on earth do you still have inflamed gums?

Inflammation of the gums, known as gingivitis, is caused by an inflammatory response in the tissue of your gums. Periodontal disease is another term you may have heard mentioned by your hygienist (as she stabs your gums with the sharp poking tool). Periodontal disease is a term that includes gingivitis and then the next step – inflammation of the jaw bone and loose teeth.[ref]

So what causes gingivitis? Lack of brushing and flossing… maybe. Smoking, for sure.

But what if you regularly brush and floss? And what about those people (you know who you are) who don’t brush and floss but have healthy gums?

The key here is the body’s response to the bacteria and biofilm on the teeth. The mouth is teeming with bacteria, and your immune system is on high alert to keep those bacteria from crossing into the bloodstream.

Inflammation, gingivitis, and genetics:

Some people naturally (genetically) are more prone to producing higher levels of inflammatory cytokines. This is a positive attribute when you are fighting off certain viruses or bacteria. But the flip side is that elevated inflammation causes a number of diseases – including gum disease.

Frequently, people with gingivitis have higher CRP levels on average than people without gingivitis. And people with periodontitis had even higher CRP levels.[ref]

Genetic studies reveal a lot about the underlying causes of diseases, including gingivitis and periodontal disease.

Variants that increase inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-alpha, interleukin 1A (IL1A gene), interleukin 6 (IL6 gene), and interleukin 8 (IL8 gene), are all linked to increased risk of gingivitis.

Your body also has ways to mitigate inflammatory cytokine production. Interleukin 10 is one such mechanism for moderating the inflammatory response. Genetic variants that decrease IL-10 are thus linked to increased inflammation and an increased risk of periodontal disease.

An increased inflammatory response to bacteria causes inflammation in the gums – gingivitis or periodontal disease. And targeting the right genetic variants may help you stop the bleeding and receding gums.

Heart disease and Gingivitis:

This article isn’t just about a little bleeding when you brush or floss. Gingivitis and an increased risk of heart disease are strongly connected.

This connection may be due to increased systemic inflammation, or it may be due to bacteria entering the bloodstream when your gums bleed (flossing, brushing).[ref]

Resolving inflammation:

The resolution of inflammation – the shutting off of inflammatory cytokine production – is actually an active process. Certain lipid-based molecules called pro-resolving mediators are produced to both stop inflammatory cytokine production and also promote the healing process (stem cells, etc.). These lipid-based pro-resolving mediators are produced from DHA and EPA, which are found in marine oils.

This is a huge and really important topic that I encourage you to read all about: Specialized Pro-Resolving Lipid Mediators: Getting Rid of Chronic Inflammation.


Gingivitis Genotype Report:

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Lifehacks for reducing gum disease:

Here are some natural options to explore for reducing inflammation in your gums:

It almost goes without saying (but I’m saying it anyway) that good oral hygiene measures, such as brushing your teeth and using a water flosser, are important in oral health.

Reducing fluoride?
Studies show fluoride increases inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6.[ref][ref][ref] Does this mean that you should stop drinking fluoridated water and use toothpaste without fluoride? I’ll let you read through the research and decide for yourself.

Related article: Fluoride and genetic interactions

Saltwater:
Rinsing with saltwater has some interesting research behind it for decreasing gingivitis. The study on saline shows that it increases type-I collagen and fibronectin in gingivitis cells.[ref]

Supplements for reducing inflammation in your gums:

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Why join Genetic Lifehacks?

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~ It gives you access to the full article, including the Genotype and Lifehacks sections.
~ You'll see your genetic data in the articles and reports.

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Curcumin Supplements: Decreasing Inflammation
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Like most nutrients, our genes play a role in how vitamin C is absorbed, transported, and used by the body. It can influence your risk for certain diseases, and it can make a difference in the minimum amount of vitamin C you need to consume each day.

TNF-alpha: Inflammation and Your Genes
Do you feel like you are constantly dealing with inflammation? Joint pain, food sensitivity, etc.? Perhaps your body genetically gears towards a higher inflammatory response. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is an inflammatory cytokine that acts as a signaling molecule in our immune system. In an acute inflammatory situation, TNF-alpha plays an essential role in protecting us.

Mast cells: MCAS, genetics, and solutions
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About the Author:
Debbie Moon is the founder of Genetic Lifehacks. Fascinated by the connections between genes, diet, and health, her goal is to help you understand how to apply genetics to your diet and lifestyle decisions. Debbie has a BS in engineering from Colorado School of Mines and an MSc in biological sciences from Clemson University. Debbie combines an engineering mindset with a biological systems approach to help you understand how genetic differences impact your optimal health.