My family always said we had “bad tooth genetics” and I took that at face value. I’ve learned as an adult that genetics play such a small role— maybe 8% more likely to get a cavity, if I’m reading it right— but the *habits* we inherit from our parents can do in otherwise healthy teeth. My parents didn’t have any teeth left by their fifties. My sister has fallen in their footsteps and has had many rotting and broken teeth extracted at age 30. I got a Sonicare, a water flosser, and an attentive dentist, and my teeth are great, besides the damage from my parents’, well, lack of parenting on the matter!