Hair color, eye color, height, and dimples are all things you can get from family members, but can gum disease be passed down, too? In a recent study from the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine, researchers found that there is a link between genetics and advanced gum disease. Though the prospect of developing gum disease may be frightening, there are a number of ways you can combat it. Learn more about how genetics may put you at a higher risk for gum disease and what you can do to fight back against genetics.

With Halloween quickly approaching, the increased amount of candy and other sugary foods at your child’s fingertips can be detrimental to their oral health. So, what can you do to help them make it through the spooky season without painful toothaches and cavities? Along with brushing their teeth twice each day and flossing once, there are a number of other ways you can steer them away from an oral health catastrophe. Here are five Halloween oral health tips to keep their smiles as lovely as ever.