5 Tips for a Healthy, Kissable Mouth
February is the month of love! Whether you’re coupled up or on your own, it’s a great time to re-evaluate your oral care routine so you can have the healthiest, most kissable mouth possible. It’s also Heart Health Month—the perfect reminder to take oral care seriously since it directly impacts cardiovascular health.
Show your mouth some love this Valentine’s Day by adopting healthy oral care habits. Here are some excellent tips to help keep your mouth, teeth and gums happy and healthy.
1. Stay Hydrated
Proper hydration helps stave off uncomfortable dry mouth, which is a leading cause of bad breath. Drinking plenty of water also washes away food particles, hampers bacteria and helps control odor. Keep a water bottle handy and stash SALIVEA Hydrating Mouth Spray in your bag to impart moisture and relieve symptoms of dry mouth on-the-go.
2. Scrape Your Tongue
Tongue scraping is a great way to quickly remove food particles and bacteria that cause bad breath and tooth decay. Regular removal of tongue bacteria may help prevent cavities and gum disease, while improving the appearance of your tongue.
3. Up Your Brushing Game
Brushing your teeth properly is the best way to remove harmful bacteria and reduce stains. Brush at least twice a day and floss after your nightly session. For best results, brush your teeth after every meal. However, if your meal includes acidic foods, juice, soda or wine, wait at least 30 minutes to brush. This helps prevent enamel erosion and discoloration that these types of food and drinks can cause. Be selective about the toothpaste you use! SALIVEA toothpaste is an excellent choice because it contains natural salivary enzymes with maximum anticavity fluoride protection to help maintain a healthy oral environment.
4. Ditch the Candy
Sugar is one of our mouth’s biggest enemies. Bacteria thrives in the sugar that candy contains and leads to tooth decay and gum disease. Avoid candy as much as possible, especially sticky and hard candies that often leave sugar-laden particles behind in your teeth. If you do give in to a sweet tooth, drink a glass of water immediately to flush away some of the sugar.
5. Go to the Dark Side
Chocolate may be a Valentine’s Day staple, but it also paves the way to tooth decay and gum disease. If you must indulge in chocolate this Valentine’s day—or any time, for that matter—choose dark instead of milk chocolate. Dark chocolate is loaded with antioxidants that benefit your overall health, including polyphenols, naturally occurring compounds that may help reduce harmful oral bacteria. According to Harvard’s School of Public Health, dark chocolate is composed of two to three times more flavanol-rich cocoa solids than milk chocolate. It also contains much less sugar and milk than its lighter counterpart. Go dark or skip the chocolate altogether! NOTE: When shopping for these dark sweets, opt for versions that contain at least 70% cocoa.
Visit this link to learn about SALIVEA oral care products that soothe dry mouth while supporting the natural defenses that saliva provides.