First off, go see your local dentist! You might think that this is completely irrelevant, but your dentist can make sure that two important and key aspects go off without a hitch when it comes to your date. These two things are your smile and your breath. You do not want to have yellow, discolored, and stained teeth the night you take your special date out on such an important night. A routine cleaning and your dentist office can take that smile of yours to the next level and give you a wonderful confidence boost. The second thing, your breath, you most likely did not think of that one. But it could be that bacteria and other particles have lodged themselves in between your teeth and have started to release an odor. We all know that you are hoping for a spectacular kiss to end the night with, and you definitely do not want your date walking away thinking about how bad your breath was.
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Another little tip for all of you is that when you buy a box of chocolate you should go with the dark, semi-sweet chocolates. These chocolates are much richer in taste and have a lot less sugar in them. Sugar will end up being a bad thing when it, paired with the bubbly champagne and/or wine you order, will only speed up the process of decaying your teeth thus speeding up your next appointment to a top dentist. And remember to not forget the Valentine’s Day card with your gift and chocolates. While it is always nice to have a cute poem written by the card company printed inside, do not forget to write something personal inside, something that comes from your heart!

Once you remember to do these small things you should be set as soon as the reservations have been made and confirmed and the gift wrapped and ready to go. So now it is time to get excited! Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and you have no reasons left to be stressed!

One, always remember to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. If you do not have a proper and balanced diet it may have an effect on your whole immune system. If you do not have the proper vitamins and nutrition your body becomes prey to many common germs and bacteria, including the oral ones! Antioxidants found in many fruits and vegetables keep your gums and teeth healthy, and help protect your gums from inflammation. Also, try to eat fruits and vegetables like carrots, celery and apples. These help keep plaque from building up in your mouth therefore keeping your breath fresh. An apple a day might keep the doctor away, but it will also keep you from visiting your local dentist often!
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Two, if you are a smoker – STOP! Smoking any tobacco products is not only bad for your teeth, but it leads to many other bodily ailments as well. When it comes to your teeth smoking increases teeth discoloration, cavities, gum recession and disease, as well as many forms of oral cancer. Smoking also makes one twice as likely to lose their teeth compared to non smokers. Once a person stops smoking, or using any forms of tobacco, the risk of tooth loss decreases right after.

Three, tobacco isn’t the only vice that many deal with. Drinking alcohol has a negative impact on your oral health as well. Those who drink high amounts of alcohol tend to be at a higher risk for gum recession. Those who consume alcohol and smoke have been shown to have a higher disregard for their overall health and are much more likely to not brush their teeth on a regular basis.

Four, remember to brush your teeth a minimum of twice a day and to floss once a day. Doing this can really limit the amount of times you have to visit a top dentist in your neighborhood. Brushing and flossing your teeth will really help preventing the likelihood of tooth decay and gum disease. Plaque builds up around one’s teeth every day, and it is a harmless and colorless bacteria that you would not notice just by looking in the mirror. Brushing your teeth and flossing on a daily basis will help prevent the build-up of plaque and thus keep your teeth in better shape.

Five, see your dentist regularly. Even after you do all this you must make sure to keep appointments with your dentist. If you make sure to keep these lifestyle changes then you will not have to go too often, because you will have much better oral health. But it is always important to have a professional dentist look at your teeth at least twice a year to make sure you are doing things right. Often times, even if you are taking proper care of your teeth, genetics may come into play and necessitate a need for a more comprehensive preventive and overall oral health care.

Happy New Year! Wishing everyone a healthy one with many successful resolutions and memories to make you smile!