This year, protect your child from one of the true horrors of Halloween – a cavity-filled dentist visit. “Since I was a child, I loved Halloween, but hated the cavities that would be discovered at my following check-up,” says Alan Zweig, D.D.S., a dentist for more than 25 years.

“If only my parents knew what we know now, and had taught me the importance of preventing cavities, I know that I would not have feared the dentist after I ate too many sweets!”

Here are Zweig’s tips for protecting kids’ teeth from an overabundance of treats:

Feed them cheese. It’s high in calcium and re-mineralizes areas of early tooth decay. It also buffers acids produced by oral bacteria, protecting teeth.

Give them a healthy meal before trick-or-treating, so they’ll have less room for candy.

Have them drink water after eating sweets to help rinse sugar away from the teeth.

Offer sugarless gum to keep saliva flowing and help rinse the teeth if they can’t brush or floss after eating ‘ treats.

Ask your dentist whether a prescription fluoride toothpaste is right for your child. It has a higher concentration of fluoride than over-the-counter brands.

Set up a candy “bank” and offer a limited amount at a time. Freeze chocolates and candy bars, and store the rest in a sealed container.

Make sure kids brush regularly to protect against cavities. [source: BA Parent]