We all know that brushing twice a day, flossing daily and eating well keeps your mouth healthy. But for a truly kissable mouth, there’s a little more to it than that.
“Stinky breath can be an indicator of oral disease or worse. If you have chronic bad breath, see your dentist,” says American Dental Association spokesperson Dr. Matt Messina. New York cosmetic dentist, Marc Lowenberg, DDS, has a few unique tips for keeping your breath fresh on Valentine’s and every day:
- Use a tongue scraper to remove plaque from the fissures of the tongue.
- Order a cocktail with vodka. It kills the bacteria in the mouth that causes bad breath, but hold off on a sugary mixer because it will bind to teeth and trigger the odor-causing bacteria.
- Eat parsley on a regular basis to combat bad breath that may be a result of digestion.
- Rinse twice daily with an ADA-recommended antiseptic mouth rinse.
For a romantic night out, try stashing the new Supersmile Icy Mint Quikee ($18) in your clutch. The instant tooth whitener is as miniature as a small tube of lip gloss and freshens breath (and whitens teeth) without the need to brush or rinse. Just dab a little on your tongue, swoosh it around over your teeth and you’ll be all set for whatever up-close and personal activities the night may bring.
