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Pucker Up for Valentine's Day with a Healthy Mouth

Tips to ensure bad breath doesn't put a damper on your romantic plans.

CHICAGO – February 10, 2003 – Are you making special plans for you and your loved one or hoping to find someone to whisper sweet nothings to on Valentine's Day? If so, the American Academy of Periodontology offers a few tips to ensure your breath doesn't put a damper on one of the most romantic days of the year.

Nothing can ruin a romantic mood like a yuck mouth. Although candies and mints can mask the smell, getting to the root of the problem is the only answer for a cure.

"The first thing you need to do is frequently check your breath for a foul odor," said Gordon Douglass, D.D.S., president of the American Academy of Periodontology. "This is easily done by taking a dry cloth and wiping it across the back part of your tongue for about five seconds. Wait about a half minute and then smell it."

If your bad breath is consistent, you may have periodontal disease, a chronic infection of the gums, or other medical conditions. A quick visit to your dentist or periodontist will help determine the cause of your bad breath.

In the meantime, Douglass offers the following tips to ensure you don't give the kiss of death this season:

Floss and brush your teeth, gums and tongue daily. Don't forget to clean behind the back teeth in each row.
Keep your mouth moist by drinking plenty of fluids, chewing sugar-free gum or sucking sugarless candy.
Be aware of foods that may contribute to bad breath such as onions and garlic.
Brush your teeth after consuming milk products, fish and meat.
Talk to your dentist or periodontist about oral problems that might be the cause of bad breath.

About the AAP

The American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) is is an 8,000-member professional organization for periodontists - specialists in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases affecting the gums and supporting structures of the teeth, and in the placement of dental implants. Periodontists are also dentistry’s experts in the treatment of oral inflammation and receive three additional years of specialized training following dental school. Periodontics is one of the nine dental specialties recognized by the American Dental Association.

Find out if you are at risk for periodontal diseases by taking the Academy’s risk assessment test. Referral to a periodontist in your area is available by calling 800-FLOSS-EM or visiting the AAP's website at www.perio.org.

For more information, contact the AAP Public Affairs Department at meg@perio.org or 312/573-3242.

Pucker Up for Valentine's Day with a Healthy Mouth

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