It’s February and you know what that means—Valentine’s Day is just around the corner! You’re looking forward to a romantic evening with your special someone. Unfortunately, you’ve noticed (or your partner has noticed for you) that you’ve had awful dragon breath recently. There’s nothing that can kill the mood of a romantic evening quite like bad breath.
So, what can you do to have fresher breath by Valentine’s Day?
Brush & Floss Your Teeth
Brush your teeth at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste. The fluoride is important for reducing bacteria. If you can, brush after each meal and floss your teeth at least once each day. Flossing properly removes plaque and food particles from between the teeth that could otherwise cause bad breath.
Replace Your Toothbrush
If you are one of those people who only get a new toothbrush when you come to our office for your six-month cleaning, you could be contributing to your bad breath. An old, worn out toothbrush cannot clean your pearly whites as well and the toothbrush could also be harboring bacteria.
Your toothbrush should be replaced every three to four months. A toothbrush with frayed bristles should also be replaced. Use an electric toothbrush to ensure thoroughness.
Brush Your Tongue
Bad breath-causing bacteria and plaque grow and gather on the tongue. Brush your tongue from back to front to help reduce odors. It’s a good idea to use a tongue scraper as it will provide a better clean. Or, alternatively, you may use the built-in tongue cleaner on the back of a toothbrush.
Watch What You Eat
Some foods can be the sources of bad breath. Strong cheeses, garlic, onions and hot peppers can be avoided or eaten in small amounts to help lessen bad breath. For your romantic Valentine’s Day dinner, you may want to skip these foods altogether.
Avoid Having Dry Mouth
Saliva is nature’s way of cleaning the mouth. If you have dry mouth, food particles and bacteria are not being washed away as they should be. This can cause bad breath. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated! Keep in mind that coffee, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages can all contribute to dry mouth.
It’s true that sometimes medications and health issues can also be causing you to have dry mouth. So it may be necessary to speak with your physician about possible alternatives.
Keep in mind that mouth breathing is another culprit.
Don’t Use Tobacco Products
Not only are smoking and chewing tobacco bad for your health, they can lead to bad breath. The scent of these products tends to linger in the mouth after use. We recommend avoiding tobacco products entirely.
Schedule & Keep Dental Cleaning Visits
To help prevent or lessen bad breath, we encourage you to schedule and keep dental cleaning and exam visits. Tell Dr. [doctor_name] about your concerns with bad breath and [heshe] can help determine the cause. Bad breath is often caused by tooth decay or gum disease, which can be treated at our office. If your bad breath is caused by a general health condition, our dentist may recommend that you see your doctor.
Don’t let bad breath spoil your Valentine’s Day plans! Contact [practice_name] at [phone] today to learn more about remedies for bad breath and to schedule your next visit with our dentist in [city], [state].
