Some people are more afraid of getting a root canal than they are of spiders or public speaking. The procedure isn’t nearly as painful or frightening as its reputation suggests, but you probably want to avoid needing it anyway since it means there’s an infection in your tooth. The good news, though, is that taking advantage of your dental insurance’s preventive coverage can make it less likely that you’ll require a root canal; here’s how.

For children, Halloween means dressing up in a costume and getting lots of candy. But as fun as the holiday can be, it can also potentially lead to serious dental problems. Fortunately, you don’t have to keep your child home from trick-or-treating to protect their smile; just follow these Halloween oral health tips to keep the season as tooth-friendly as possible.