When you go on a date with someone new, it can be incredibly nerve-wracking. You are worried whether your clothes fit right, whether your hair looks good, and whether your breath smells good. To ensure that you don't worry about the last one all night long, there are plenty of things that you can do to ensure your breath remains fresh before the date and during the date, which includes working alongside your family dentist. Keep reading to learn more.
Brush and Floss Just Before Leaving
Gently brush your teeth for a couple of minutes before leaving the house. Make sure to brush your tongue so that odor-causing bacteria is removed—or at least reduced—as this is what typically results in bad breath. Don't forget to floss so that you can remove plaque, which can lead to decay and odors as well.
Drink Plenty of Water
To ensure that your mouth is free of any food particles and bacteria that may cause foul breath, you should sip on water throughout the entire day and evening. Water helps to prevent dry mouth, which is a problem that can increase plaque and the growth of bacteria. Water can help to rinse away odors in the mouth.
Limit the Consumption of Alcohol
Alcohol can result in your inhibitions being lowered, which can lead to embarrassing behavior on your part as well as foul mouth odors. Alcohol ends up stripping your mouth of the good bacteria, leaving only bad bacteria behind. Unfortunately, bad breath is the result.
Avoid Odorous Foods
You will want to avoid eating foods that are known to cause bad breath like garlic and onions. If at all possible, you will want to stick to ordering foods that can clean your teeth naturally while maintaining fresh breath like celery, carrots, and other raw vegetables. Apples are a good option as well.
Chew Gum Made with Natural Oils
After your meal, you should chew on a piece of gum that has peppermint, spearmint, or cinnamon oils to help freshen up your mouth. In addition, the gum will increase the production of saliva, which will help wash away the food particles in the mouth that may cause odors—something that breath mints are unable to do. Mints do not clean the mouth; instead, they just mask foul breath odors.
If you have not been to the dentist in the past six months, you should consider scheduling an appointment for a check-up and a deep cleaning before your date. For more information, talk to your family dentist.