Achieve A Sweet Smile This Valentine’s Day

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, we know that many of our patients here in Harford County have plans to spend time with loved ones. Whether you plan to enjoy a romantic night out or a relaxing night in with your significant other, you’ll want to maintain a healthy, kissable mouth.

Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to improve your smile just in time for this festive day of love. Dr. Richard Grubb shares the top 10 dental tips for our patients that want to enjoy a sweet smile for Valentine’s Day.

Top 10 Dental Tips For A Kissable Mouth

1. Brush Twice A Day: Are you brushing your teeth twice a day? According to brushing guidelines from the American Dental Association, you should brush for at least two minutes twice a day to properly care for your oral health. Be sure to place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle and use small circular motions. If you aren’t making brushing a priority already, we strongly encourage you to make proper brushing a habit.
2. Flossing Once Per Day: Flossing is another important facet of proper oral hygiene that can be overlooked. If you don’t floss, bacteria and food particles get trapped in hard-to-reach areas and wreak havoc on your dental health. To combat this issue, simply floss each day to remove cavity-causing bacteria. Flossing only take a few extra minutes and can make a world of difference for the health of your smile.
3. Avoid Foods That Cause Bad Breath: For a kissable mouth this Valentine’s Day, we recommend avoiding foods that are notorious for causing bad breath. Foods like garlic and onions cause bad breath when it enters the bloodstream and releases an odor after the blood reaches the lungs. The major problems with this kind of bad breath are that it won’t go away when you brush your teeth. To avoid this problem, to begin with, try to steer clear of foods and drinks that cause smelly breath.
4. Cut Out Tobacco Products: “Smoker’s breath” is often associated with tobacco use. Bad breath occurs because the chemicals and tar in cigarettes linger in the mouth long after you finish smoking. For the sake of your health and fresh breath, cut out tobacco products this Valentine’s Day.
5. Drink More Water: Staying hydrated is important for the overall function of the body, and this include aspects of your dental health. Drinking enough water will help promote saliva production, which helps to wash away excess bacteria and food particles in the mouth.
6. Use Mouthwash: Need to freshen your breath? Try adding a mouthwash to your daily oral hygiene routine. Adding mouthwash with fluoride can also provide extra protection from tooth decay.
7. Be Wary Of Sweets: Although Valentine’s Day is known for sweet treats and candies, we encourage our patients to enjoy these treats sparingly. When you consume sugar, bacteria in your mouth will metabolize sugar and create an enamel-eroding acid. For this reason, limit your consumption of Valentine treats.
8. Whiten Your Smile: Show off your bright smile to your sweetheart this Valentine’s Day! If you want to improve the brightness of your smile, simply try out different whitening treatments available. There are plenty of home kits to whiten your smile or consider professional teeth whitening treatment here at Family Implant & Reconstructive Dentistry.
9. Be Critical Of Your Oral Habits: Are you properly taking care of your smile? Taking a critical look at your oral habits can help you identify areas that need improvement. Some habits to consider include brushing or flossing habits.
10. Visit Your Dentist For Regular Checkups: Dental professionals recommend a check-up appointment every 6 months. During these bi-annual check-ups, your dentist will look for any early signs of trouble. Identifying problems in the early stages will end up saving you the pain and cost of extensive dental treatment.

Contact Dr. Grubb In Harford County

From all of us here at Family Implant & Reconstructive Dentistry, we wish you a wonderful Valentine’s Day with loved ones. If you have any concerns regarding your dental health, we strongly encourage you to give us a call. We offer a range of services including fluoride treatments, veneers and dental implants. To get started, contact our office to schedule your no-obligation consultation with Dr. Grubb.