With Halloween fast approaching, kids and adults alike are preparing to enjoy all kinds of sugary treats. From candy corn to chocolate bars, these goodies might satiate your sweet tooth—but they can also wreak havoc on your oral health. While your family dentist probably wishes you’d steer clear of candies altogether, this isn’t realistic. That’s why Montgomery dentist Christopher F. Heck, DMD- Montgomery General Dentistry in Cincinnati, OH, has some tips for protecting teeth when consuming candy.

Read on for some general dentistry advice on how to enjoy Halloween without harming your dental well-being:

• Clean Promptly After Chowing Down: After you indulge in sugary goodies, clean your teeth promptly. Brush if you can. If you’re unable to use a toothbrush, rinse with water. Chomping on an apple can also help dislodge bits of candy stuck to your teeth and nix extra sugar from the enamel.
• Designate Your Sugar Treat Time: In order to ensure your post-candy cleaning doesn’t go to waste, block off certain times for treats. You can’t brush your teeth every 20 minutes, so don’t keep digging into the candy bowl all day long! Store your trick-or-treat haul in a cabinet; if it’s out of sight, you won’t be tempted.
• Beware of Hard Candies & Sticky Sweets: If you can, try to avoid sticky candies like gummies and licorice. These have a greater tendency to get stuck to your teeth and can be tough to remove. When it comes to hard candies, don’t bite down—this can damage enamel and even result in a chipped tooth. In general, stick to chocolates if you can.