A holiday dear to our hearts, Valentine’s Day has a long history in western civilization. Ancient Romans celebrated a feast day on February 14th, in honor of Juno, the goddess of love and marriage. Some historians believe that a Bishop named Valentine performed marriage ceremonies in secret against Roman decree. In 1537 the English king,…
A holiday dear to our hearts, Valentine’s Day has a long history in western civilization. Ancient Romans celebrated a feast day on February 14th, in honor of Juno, the goddess of love and marriage. Some historians believe that a Bishop named Valentine performed marriage ceremonies in secret against Roman decree. In 1537 the English king, Henry VII, declared February 14th as the official day to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Besides the United States, other countries such as Canada, Mexico, France, and Australia celebrate this day as well. Did you know that over $1 billion of chocolate candy will be purchased for Valentine’s Day? Dr. Jim Erpenbach and our staff have composed some helpful tips to keep our patients’ mouths clean, kissable, and fresh.
Helpful Tips for Fresh Breath
• Use lip balm. Apply balm throughout the day to keep your lips moist and hydrated. Harsh winter weather tends to dry out our lips.
• Avoid eating foods that cause bad breath. This includes onions and garlic as well as some spices such as curry or cumin. When our bodies break down these foods for digestion, their odorous properties are released when we exhale.
• Drink water throughout the day. Water helps rinse our mouths and it dilutes particles that feed odor-causing bacteria.
• Brush your teeth and rinse your mouth with water after eating starches and sugars. Chocolate truffles may taste delicious but their sugar content is harmful to your oral health.
• Look for mints or gum that contain xylitol. This ingredient is a sugar substitute that won’t affect your oral health.
• Schedule a dental cleaning. When we clean your teeth, we remove surface stains, tartar, and plaque buildup. You will leave our office knowing that your teeth and mouth are spotlessly clean!
Our staff would like to wish our readers and patients a Happy Valentine’s Day. To schedule an appointment, contact our Knoxville dentist office at 865-584-8630. We serve the Bearden area of Knoxville and West Knoxville.
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