San Francisco and Marin CA
You’ve undoubtedly got “Kiss Me” written all over your mind on Valentine’s Day! With all the “Kiss Me” phrases on little candy hearts and the love tunes playing on the radio, it’s no wonder. It turns out there is more to a kiss than meets the eye, so before snuggling up to your special someone, ensure your mouth is healthy. When you kiss your significant other, you both produce more saliva, which helps in the battle against tooth decay. In contrast to the traditional Valentine’s Day gifts of chocolate, flowers, and greeting cards, you may end up with some unwelcome germs, illnesses, or diseases if the person you kiss has poor dental and general health. Therefore, our Bay Area dentists at Glen Park Dental share on the blog today six tips to make your mouth extra kissable this Valentine’s Day so that you don’t share your germs and better protect your oral and overall health.
It’s Possible to Spread Cavities
The germs that cause cavities may be passed from one person to another in a variety of ways, including kissing and even something as innocuous as sharing a fork. If you want to have cleaner kisses and a smile that is free of cavities, brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes each time, and floss once a day.
Beware of Bad Breath
Bad breath is often caused by bacteria, making it all the more crucial to maintain good oral hygiene routines like brushing and flossing regularly. Our dentists in Marin explain that chewing sugar-free gum and antimicrobial mouthwashes are two more options for maintaining a minty fresh mouth. Both are great for relieving bad breath and stimulating saliva production, particularly after eating strongly scented meals. Make sure both products have the ADA’s seal of approval before purchasing for the best results.
Share Your Life, Not Your Toothbrush
Having a toothbrush in each other’s homes is a significant relationship milestone for couples. However, you and your partner must both have a toothbrush because sharing one exposes each other to the risk of contracting germs from the other person, especially when they’re sick. So, feel free to share all the journeys that life has to offer with each other, but keep your toothbrush sacred and used only by you.
Enhance Your Smile
A confident smile is a person’s most beautiful feature, and heavily discolored or stained smiles can appear unattractive. Although there are over-the-counter teeth whitening products at the local retail stores, they fail to provide effective results in a short time frame. Therefore, in most cases, patients with discolored smiles opt for professional teeth whitening treatments to get fast, dramatic results in time for Valentine’s Day.
Stop Smoking
In addition to being awful for your health, smoking leaves telltale yellow stains on your teeth and gives you foul smelling breath. When you smoke, your sense of smell and taste diminishes. Tobacco users are twice as likely to get gum disease than nonsmokers. Additionally, oral cancer is more common among smokers. In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, our Marin dentists encourage you to present yourself with the gift of kicking the habit.
Keep Your Dental Appointments
Maintaining a healthy mouth all year round requires a partnership with and frequent visits to your dentist. We are a resource for maintaining good health, addressing any issues, and receiving more guidance on how to keep your teeth and gums in good shape and protect your overall health. So, maintain a regular checkup and cleaning schedule of once every six months for optimum oral health.
Dentists in Marin, Oakland, and San Francisco, California
Valentine’s Day is a special time of year to show how much you love and care for others. Like a gift of candy, flowers, or a card, you can also give a gift of a kissable healthy mouth. By following the above six tips, you can improve your oral health and reduce the risk of transmitting germs and diseases to your special someone. You can also go a step further and schedule a checkup and cleaning at our San Francisco dental office before Valentine’s Day so that you can have a super clean mouth to share with your love. Please call Glen Park Dental at (415) 585-1500 or contact us online to schedule an appointment today.
