Banish Bad Breath

Kiss with Confidence

With Valentine’s Day around the corner, you may be considering ways to treat your loved one. With meals out off the menu, spa breaks on hold and concerts cancelled, you’ll need to think of ways to embrace romance while staying safe at home. Perhaps you’re planning to set the stage for a romantic night in. Candles providing a soft glow, your favourite ambient playlist on standby and a delicious meal with a sweet ending... When you’re ready to pucker up, you want to ensure your oral health is up to scratch. There’s nothing worse than bad breath to kill the mood for a kiss.

Bad breath is a very common problem but one that needs addressing. Persistent bad breath is usually caused by the smelly gases released by bacteria that coat your teeth. Having a clean mouth is your first step to preventing bad breath.

Here at Oral Health Care, we’re committed to making your mouth our priority. If you think you might have bad breath, just lick the inside of your wrist. If the smell is bad, you can be pretty sure your breath needs some attention. Your partner might even tell you, but try not to let it get that stage – it’s a sure-fire passion killer. Here’s our top tips to ensure you can pucker up and enjoy Valentine’s Day in complete confidence:

1. Think about what you eat and drink

The great news here is you’ve got the perfect excuse to splurge. Champagne is less acidic than prosecco, so is less likely to contribute to tooth erosion. We don’t need any further excuse to crack open that bubbly. It’s better to eat sweet foods like chocolate or dessert after a meal to avoid caries. Avoid strong tastes that may affect your breath like coffee, garlic and onions.

2. Keep your mouth clean

A scrupulous teeth cleaning regime can help get rid of the bad-breath causing bacteria. Ensure you’re cleaning your teeth thoroughly twice a day. Using a specially flavoured toothpaste can help make your kiss even tastier – why not check out BE YOU’s watermelon, apple and gin tonic toothpastes for a twist on the minty classic.

Flossing or interdental cleaning at least once a day will also help ensure your mouth is clean. Tongue scraping can also help clear the bacteria from your mouth and improve your tongue’s appearance. We recommend the TePe Tongue Cleaner for deep cleaning, or the couple-friendly Curaprox Twin Pack Tongue Cleaner.

Use a mouthwash to freshen your breath – many are specially formulated to help prevent bad breath and gum disease. But don’t use mouthwash to cover up the cause of your bad breath, which your dental team can help you diagnose.

3. Chew gum

Chewing sugar-free gum helps protect your teeth and gums in between meals when it may not be possible to brush with a toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Your teeth are at risk of an acid attack after eating, due to the sugars in food and drink. Chewing gum can reduce this acid attack by helping your mouth produce more saliva. Also, the minty flavour of many types of gum can help freshen your breath. Make sure you’re not regularly chewing gum to cover up chronic bad breath, though.

4. Stop smoking

There are several reasons why quitting smoking is the best thing you can do for your health – and bad breath is just another. Not only does smoking carry a whole host of serious health risks, it can lead to gum disease and bad breath. No-one wants to kiss an ashtray. Why not give your partner the ultimate gift this Valentine’s and stop smoking? You might get an extra kiss as a reward.

There are some medical conditions and medications that can cause bad breath. If this is the case for you, see your dentist, who can recommend ways to improve your teeth cleaning routine or recommend products to counteract conditions. For example, 'Dry mouth' (xerostomia) is a condition that means your mouth produces less saliva. This causes bacteria to build up in your mouth and leads to bad breath. An artificial saliva product may be prescribed or your dental team could suggest other ways to deal with this problem.

Stay confident this Valentine’s Day, keeping your teeth clean so you can kiss with a sparkling smile and fresh breath.