Of mistletoe mouthwash

December is here, which brings Christmas celebrations and the desire of meeting your soul mate under the mistletoe. But before you share a kiss with your Prince Charming, there are certain things you should know. Affection not only affects your mood, but your oral health as well. Colds, the flu and strep throat are all contagious. But the truth is you can catch a cavity just like you catch a cold.

First, the good news! Locking lips with a loved one can bring some health benefits. Kissing has been shown to lower you blood pressure, burn some extra calories (up to 16 calories per kiss), reduce the pain from cramps or a headache and boost the chemicals in your brain that make you feel happy.

Well, now the bad news. Kissing comes with risks. You might fall in love, catch a cold, or be grossed out by bad breath. But did you know that kissing someone with poor oral hygiene could increase your risk for cavities. On average, there are an estimated 300 different species of bacteria living inside our mouths, totaling a billion or more at any given time. Most bacteria in our bodies are harmless; some are even beneficial. Then there are bacteria that cause oral diseases such as tooth decay, or cavities, and periodontal diseases. The primary culprit is Streptococcus mutans, a bacteria that can pass from person to person through the transfer of saliva, such as sharing of utensils, blowing on food, and yes, even kissing that sweet little bundle of joy on the mouth. Catch feelings, not cavities

As long as you’re taking good care of your oral health and hygiene, you don’t need to worry as much about spreading dangerous, cavity-causing germs with your kisses.

While you can’t necessarily control your partner’s oral health, you can definitely control your own.

n Brush with a soft-bristled toothbrush (in the morning, at night, and after meals).

n Floss regularly and put a cap on sugary drinks and snacks.

n Scrub your tongue daily before going to bed.

n Use antimicrobial mouth rinse.

n Use flouridated toothpastes which builds up resistance to plaque.

n Chew sugar-free gum between meals.

(Dr. Sandhu is a Chandigarh-based prosthodontics)