Valentine's Day Tips For A Fresh Breath {Ask Marie-Helene or rather, Dr. Smith}

We got some great tips from a dentist from Los Angeles, Dr. Daniel C. Smith, on how to prevent bad-breath fiasco on your Valentine's day. Here they are, unedited and uncut, just in time to help you prepare for your big romantic night out. But before that, you'll have be practical-minded.

"It has been reported that between 14 and 25 percent of Americans and 35 to 45 percent of the entire world's population have chronic bad breath."

Dr. Smith's Date Night Advice

When Placing Your Order...

• Meat eaten in large quantities can cause bad breath, mostly due to the digestion process, which begins in the mouth.
• Carbohydrates cause the strongest odors in the mouth - sugars, starches, and cellulose
• Milk intolerance is also a cause of bad breath. If you are sensitive to dairy products - steer clear of ice cream desserts!...

After Your Meal...

• Lick the inside of your wrist [editor's note: NOT that of your partner... wink, wink]. This is the best test to see if your breath is foul.
• Use dental floss. Bad breath can be caused by food caught in your teeth.
• Chew your garnish! Parsley is a well-known home remedy for bad breath.
• Order the fruit dessert. Fresh fruits help cleanse the mouth after a meal and flush away odor-causing bacteria

 

At the Bar...

• Alcohol dries out the mouth, which reduces saliva production.
• Mojitos contain lots of fresh mint, so order one and ask for an extra mint garnish to chew on after you finish your drink.
• Water will help thwart the dehydration effect of alcohol. Order one glass of water for every drink and you'll stay sober and sweet!
• Alcohol consumption causes digestive problems which leads to bad breath. In addition, alcohol dries out the mouth, which reduces saliva production.

About Dr. Daniel C. Smith, D.D.S., F.A.G.D.

Daniel Smith, D.D.S., F.A.G.D in 1981 graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Dentistry and began his professional career with a three-year stint as a member of the US Public Health Service in Dallas, Texas, while simultaneously practicing in a private office in Plano, Texas. Dr. Smith in 1988 established Focus Dentistry located in Agora Hills, California where he practices today.

 

He prides himself on his commitment to continued education and has spent over 2,000 hours building his expertise in dentistry, with more than 1,000 of those hours dedicated to implant dentistry. Dr. Smith is a graduate of the Misch International Implant Institute, having completed in 2004 a residency in prosthetics and in 2005 a residency in implant surgery. He maintains memberships in several organizations including the Academy of General Dentistry, the American Dental Association, the California Dental Association, the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, the Academy of Osseointegration, the International College of Implantology, and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

Dr. Smith frequently lectures on implant dentistry, office design and practice management and is the director of Focus Dental Institute for Implant Reconstruction as well as co-director of Focus Center of Sleep Apnea and Snoring.

Please visit www.FocusDentistryOnline.com to learn more.