4 top tips to keep your smile fresh on Valentine’s Day

Lots of us like to take care of our smile at the best of times, but never is this more true than Valentine’s Day. That’s the thing about the power of a good smile – not only does it make you look amazing on the outside, but helps you to feel amazing on the inside, too. We know how important that is here at AP Smilecare, which is why we offer a number of core dentistry treatments all geared towards helping you look and feel at your very best. If you’re already getting a bit nervous for an upcoming date this Thursday, though, we’ve got some top tips we think you’ll find useful!

Be careful what you consume

This is one of the most important bits of advice we can give, both in the run up and on the day itself. If you want to keep your teeth bright, white and clean, it’s worth thinking about what you’re putting them through in the days leading up to your big date! Smoking, drinking coffee and acidic drinks like wine are all habits that can put particular pressure on your oral health, as they’re all capable of staining your teeth to a fairly significant degree. If you’re in the habit of regularly consuming them, giving yourself a break of even as little as a few days before Valentine’s Day can do wonders to make your mouth feel fresher and healthier, giving you more confidence for your date. (Although obviously, for longer term results you’ll have to make a bigger commitment to cutting them out entirely!)

Woman smiling on valentines day

Drink plenty of water

Closely related to our point above, drinking water is actually one of those things that’s highly underestimated in terms of the good that it can do for your teeth (and your body in general!). As well as its refreshing and hydrating qualities, it does an excellent job of washing away any bits of food still clinging to your teeth after meals, including sugary elements. It’s one of the many reasons why we often advise chocolate is consumed at mealtimes rather than as a snack, as the drinks that most people have with their meals do a fine job of washing it away! Another advantage of drinking lots of water is that it promotes oxygen-containing saliva, which is your body’s natural way of keeping your mouth clean and healthy.

However, don’t forget that it’s chiefly water that all this applies to. You couldn’t say the same for lemonade, for example, or most energy drinks. They do more harm than good in that sense!

Avoid bad breath

Ah here it is; the nightmare scenario we all fear most on a date. Bad bacteria in our mouths is a major cause of bad breath. It can be found resting on our gums, teeth and tongue, which is why sometimes you might feel that odd taste in your mouth even if you haven’t had any garlic (for example) recently. How can you avoid it, then? That’s simple – by brushing and flossing! Really, there’s no substitute for properly, effectively brushing your teeth in the morning and evening, so make sure to practice this sort of good oral hygiene in the run up to your date.

Woman smiling on valentines date

You can give mouthwashes and mints a try, but it’s worth remembering that you won’t want to become too heavily reliant on short-term solutions. They have their drawbacks – for example, chewing gum through your date might not make you the most attractive person who ever lived!

Brighten your smile

Even if bad breath isn’t a major concern for you, most of us think more about the quality of our smile than perhaps we realise! We’ve gone into this more in a previous post, but very few things are more attractive to the opposite sex than a confident smile. Smile makeovers and teeth whitening are two of the core services we provide here at AP Smilecare, and we take them very seriously! Your smile and dental health are our top priority, and we take care to make sure that you leave our practice looking and feeling amazing. Why not give us a call on 01254 297 000, or stop by our dentist in Blackbun to see what we can do for you? (And if you’ve got a date this Valentine’s Day… good luck!)