You might realize that your dentist is an important partner when it comes to creating and keeping a mouth that is highly kissable. Although everyone worries about bad breath, that should not be your first concern. Nope. Make sure your mouth is in great shape – as well as the mouth of your kissing partner.

Saliva, that oral juice that helps fight cavities is stimulated by kissing. If either party to the kiss has poor dental health, you run the risk of unwanted, and unhealthy, germs, illnesses, or diseases. Be kind to each other, shower each other with love and attention and show it by maintain good oral health.

Here are 4 important tips to get your kisser ready for kissing:

Banish the bacteria

Cavities are often ignored until they become painful. In many instances patients don’t even realize there is a cavity until they see the dentist. But cavities are caused by bacteria breaking down the enamel and then the dentin. Prevent the spread of that bacteria by kissing with daily brushing and flossing and regular dental check-ups. On a side note, sharing a toothbrush is another way to pass unwanted germs to a partner – just say no and don’t do it!

Beware the bad breath

OK, here it is – the biggest thing people worry about when interacting with others, especially when kissing is the in the future. Yes, bad breath is caused by bacteria and gases in the mouth. It’s not just the onions, garlic, and coffee that create it, but some foods do exacerbate the problem. Again, brushing and flossing are important to control bad breath, but you can also keep your mouth fresh with over-the-counter mouthwashes and even by chewing sugarless gun. These are good tools especially after eating some foods you know are strongly scented or stay with you.

Brighten your smile

Two things often head the list when people are asked what attracted them to another person – confidence and a great smile. One way to boost both is by whitening your teeth. You can find a number of products in your local market but the effectiveness varies. Some of our patients say they use these products between whitening treatments here at our dental office. Most people say a whitening session with the dentist is the best way to get the smile they prefer. A smile that gives them the confidence when it comes to kissing.

Mind your habits

Smoking and what you drink has an effect on your oral health. Everyone today knows that smoking is detrimental to your overall health, including your oral health. But not everyone understands that every drink you take passes over your teeth and through your mouth. Yes, coffee and tea can stain your teeth, but when you consume drinks that contain lots of chemicals, carbonation, sugar, and acid you are actually feeding the deterioration of your teeth. And kissing someone with questionable dental health is neither good for you, nor something most people look forward to doing. Keep that in mind when you reach for that next drink.

Here at Danville Family Dentistry we appreciate the affection we see between our patients and their loved ones. We would like to keep that love alive – and keep our patients and their families healthy. That’s why we encourage regular dental check-ups and cleaning every six months. Prevention is always the best tool we all have to keep our mouths healthy, happy, and kissable!

Call us now at 317-745-4400 to schedule your next dental visit.

Disclaimer: The information included in this article is for educational purposes only. It should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.