Can a parent's cavities be transmitted to their child?

Although tooth decay itself is not contagious, the bacteria that cause tooth decay are transmitted to people through saliva, so it is quite possible for a family member to transmit the bacteria to a child. A common example is when a child eats food from their mother's mouth or uses chopsticks that their mother used in childhood.

Is it true that new teeth are more susceptible to cavities?

It's true. After teeth grow, calcium, phosphorus, fluoride, etc. contained in saliva dissolve into the enamel on the surface of the teeth, gradually hardening them. At the same time, changes occur inside the teeth. Newly grown teeth are in an incomplete state, so they are prone to cavities.

Does thumb sucking in children affect the alignment of their teeth?

Yes, there is an effect. It is generally said that children who continue to suck their thumbs after the age of five are at risk of developing bad teeth alignment. However, instead of forcing children to stop sucking their thumbs, it is better to check whether there is anything that could be causing thumb sucking.

My gums are swollen as my baby teeth are coming in. Is this ok?

During the tooth replacement period, the gums tend to swell. This is because the teeth before they grow are inside the gums, but the surface of the newly growing teeth (enamel) is not attached to the gums. Therefore, when the teeth are growing, the teeth and gums are not attached to each other.