Candy, soda, sugary treats, “Oh my!” They may taste delicious, but man, that sweet tooth can pack a disastrous oral punch. Just because you love your sweets doesn’t mean your teeth have to suffer the uncomfortable cavity consequences. There are preventative measures you can take to ensure you keep your teeth cavity-free while still enjoying those delectable desserts.

Five ways to prevent cavities

Brush your teeth often: To keep those pearly whites healthy and strong, you should keep your teeth clean. If you’re working in an office, there are travel toothbrushes and small tubes of fluoride toothpaste you can discreetly carry in your purse or briefcase. For school-aged kids, they should brush their teeth after they have their afternoon snack, just to clean their teeth after their busy day. As an alternative, you can swish with mouthwash or even water, just to rinse the remaining residue from your teeth until you can brush them thoroughly.

Eat Cheese: Yes, you read that right. Cheese has a protein called casein which researchers have discovered can help promote healthy teeth. Surprisingly, yes. Tasty…very! Cavity prevention…Yes! This seems to be the case when it comes to cheese.

Sip with Straws: People love their soft drinks. Limit the amount of damage your drinks can do by using a straw. If the liquid doesn’t come into direct contact with your teeth, you can minimize the adverse effects. Don’t forget to brush or rinse, because that sugar still lingers in your mouth.

Sugar-Free Gum: Chewing sugar-free gum made with Xylitol is a pretty useful cavity-defensive measure. Xylitol helps with cavity prevention because cavity-causing bacteria can not grow in your mouth when Xylitol is on the loose. If you’re chewing sugar-free gum or sucking on a sugar-free mint where Xylitol is the first ingredient, you’re doing major damage control when it comes to your teeth.

Visit Your Dentist Regularly: To really pack a cavity-preventing punch, schedule regular visits with the dentist. Doing this twice per year for cleaning and oral exams can help by locating any potential problems. You can also discuss dental sealants with your dentist. Dental Sealants are a protective plastic coating that is placed in the grooves of your teeth and creates a barrier against any buildup that can cause tooth decay. These sealants can last up to ten years but need to be examined at your regular check-ups to make sure they are still in place.