Have you found yourself under the mistletoe some time lately? It’s a holiday tradition in many households. The festive plant has long been a symbol meant to incite affection during the holiday season. Are you aiming to grab a kiss from your sweetheart or crush thanks to mistletoe? If so, you’ll want to make sure your dental health is leaving you kissable. If you have untreated gum disease, the symptoms that often come with periodontal infections can cause bad breath and swollen, puffy gum tissues. Read on for some tips on keeping your mouth fresh for any future smooches.

Brushing and Flossing

Proper oral hygiene is the best solution to avoiding periodontal disease and keeping your teeth and gums healthy. An additional bonus to good dental self-care is pleasant breath and a brighter, whiter, shinier smile. Your kissability is not merely a question of someone else being willing to lean in and meet you half way. If you don’t feel good about the way your smile looks or your breath smells, you are much less likely to even allow yourself into a smooching situation. If you want to turn your love-life around for the holidays, start by brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing once a day, without fail. Don’t forget to visit your dentist twice a year to clean off stubborn tartar.

Keep Mints On Hand

We tend to do a lot of eating over the holidays, and no matter how often you brush your teeth, certain foods can promote unpleasant smelling breath. The ultimate way to keep breath fresh is keeping bacteria out of your mouth through the above-mentioned oral hygiene tips. However, if you just couldn’t help but go with the extra onions on your burger at lunch, popping a mint before you find yourself under the mistletoe with that special someone will give you a temporary fix. The same goes for chewing sugar free gum with xylitol. Even better would be to carry a toothbrush and toothpaste in your car or stashed away in your desk at work.

ABOUT YOUR ROLLING MEADOWS DENTIST:

Dr. Brent Engelberg and his highly-skilled team proudly serve patients and their families from Arlington Heights, IL, and all surrounding communities, including; Northbrook, Deerfield, Highland Park, Wilmette, Winnetka, Glencoe, Vernon Hills, Lincolnshire, Libertyville, Skokie, Evanston, Palatine, Schaumburg, Elk Grove Village, Rolling Meadows, and the Northern and Northwest Chicago Suburbs. To learn more, schedule a consultation online, or call our office today at 847-259-8030.