Kissing Health

Kissing Health: You say “I know that!”, but do you?  

Some of this may seem like common sense ­ and it should be! Like keeping your mouth  healthy. But you would be surprised at how many people ​ do not​  take care of themselves in  this simple way.

Keep up with your basic dental care, such as regular teeth cleanings, fixing cavities and any  aches or pains you may have in your mouth. Most insurances cover basic dental care. If you  have it, use it. A dentist could tell you if you have common problems like ​ bad breath, dry  mouth, canker or cold sores, TMD, tooth decay, or thrush. They can even tell you if you have  certain STDs. This is especially important for those with oral piercings or open mouth wounds.  They have also recently begun to use some of this new technology to detect certain types of  mouth and throat cancers.

Brush and floss your teeth daily and preferably after each meal.. Yes FLOSS if you want that  natural fresh breath. It's the only way to not have to worry about it.   It’s also an awesome feeling to ​ breathe through your teeth and not worry about odor.  We’ll talk about this later…

Three often neglected parts of our mouth are:  

1. The top of the mouth  

2. The insides of the cheeks  

3. The tongue (be careful with this one)  

Try to remember these areas while brushing.  Do not brush all the way to the back of the  tongue or you create a gagging reflex. We  really don’t want that to happen…   I think the tools they sell to scrape your  tongue may be worth the money. It keeps  your toothbrush clean of extra bacteria and it  will completely remove  the white film and  toothpaste covering your tongue. Brushing may just push the bacteria  around.  

The type of toothpaste and/or mouthwash is very individual. You do not  however want to come on with the overpowering, alcoholic smell some products have ­  especially if you don’t drink!   As you get to know this person, tastes will become clearer to you. For a first time kiss, always  try to keep your taste more on the neutral side.   Always make sure you rinse after your routine.