In honor of Valentine’s Day’s feelings of love, roses, and kisses, the Buckhead dental office of Dr. Todd Davis thinks it’s important to cover the pros and cons of kissing. Before you partake in any lip to lip action, take a moment to read up on how kissing is bad – and good – for your oral health.

Taking kissing advice from your dentist in Buckhead can seem a bit odd. But we are the experts in all things related to your mouth, so there’s really nobody better!

Everybody kisses. It’s natural and it’s good for showing your love and devotion to your partner. However, there are a few dangers that you should be aware of before smooching. In fact, according to the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), one kiss can share more than 500 types of disease-causing germs and viruses including cold sores, Mononucleosis (Mono, or the kissing disease), and even gum disease. And as we all know, kissing can also lead to sharing of a cold or the flu.

But don’t ban kissing just yet. There are actually upsides to locking lips with a loved one. Kissing can benefit your oral health by increasing saliva production. Saliva helps wash away food particles and cavity-causing bacteria, and can also protect teeth from decay by neutralizing acids. Additionally, kissing can enhance your mood and strengthen your relationship. So smooch on! Just be careful of any possible oral health dangers.

The best advice from our Buckhead dental office is to make sure to keep up with your professional cleanings and checkups to limit the chance of sharing dangerous germs or even gum disease with a loved one. If you’re due for a checkup, or if you want to get kissable, fresh breath for all those romantic moments, call Dr. Todd Davis to set up an appointment today!