February is a month for snuggling up with your loved one, and you’ll want to ensure your mouth is kissable and fresh. No one wants to be kissed by someone who has bad breath or whose oral hygiene is a little suspect.
Did you know that kissing stimulates saliva, which in turn can help fight cavities? However, if you’re kissing someone with poor dental health, you’ll be potentially sharing their cavity-causing bacteria! It is an unpleasant thought, but this month is the ideal opportunity to take a look at your oral health and to ensure it really is in great shape.
Bad Breath is Not Kissable
Other than food choices which can cause temporary bad breath, the biggest culprit is bacteria. Regularly brushing and flossing your teeth is crucial if you want a beautifully fresh and kissable mouth. Don’t forget to gently clean your tongue at the same time because this can harbour huge amounts of bacteria. Use your toothbrush or buy a special tongue scraper.
Other ways to keep your mouth fresh, healthy and kissable include using over-the-counter antimicrobial mouthwash or get into the habit of chewing sugarless gum after eating a meal and when you cannot brush your teeth. Sugar-free gum will get your saliva flowing, washing away excess bacteria and loose food particles and will tide you over until you have time to brush and floss. If you work long hours, keep a toothbrush and toothpaste in the office.
Be Possessive about Your Toothbrush
Sharing most things with your significant other is great, but sharing your toothbrush is a big no-no! When you share a toothbrush, you also share bacteria. After using your toothbrush, make sure you rinse it thoroughly, removing any food particles and toothpaste, and place it upright to dry, ensuring it doesn’t touch anyone else’s toothbrush and that air can circulate freely around it.
Chuck your toothbrush as soon as it begins to look worn or splayed, usually every three months as it won’t clean your teeth so effectively. It is worth keeping one or two spare toothbrushes handy, in case you have overnight guests who have forgotten to bring their own.
Choose Chocolates Over Candies
If sweet treats form part of your Valentine’s Day celebrations, look after your loved one’s teeth by choosing chocolate instead of hard or sticky candies. Chocolate easily melts so it is washed away more quickly than harder or stickier candies that can linger for hours and which tend to be tricky to brush away thoroughly. Flowers or non-edible treats could be an even better choice for dental health, and especially for anyone watching their waistline!
You may also like: Is your smile ready for romance?
Don’t Forget About Dental Checkups
If you have noticed your breath is persistently bad or it has been a while since you saw a dentist, schedule an appointment with Dr. James Cadigan here at Chatham Dental Centre. Persistent bad breath can be a sign of an untreated dental problem, or even an underlying medical problem. It definitely keeps you from being kissable! We can carefully check your dental health to make sure your teeth and gums are strong and healthy.
Be sure to see our hygienist when you visit us. A professional dental cleaning is a great way to freshen breath and will help you to maintain a healthy and very kissable mouth. Also, it is an excellent way to help your smile sparkle a little more because your teeth are polished, removing some slight surface staining.
If your partner could do with improving their dental health, it’s a great idea to remind them gently to visit the dentist and especially if they want to do some quality smooching this month.
