Move over Binaca

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, nothing can kill the flames of passion faster than the dreaded dry mouth.

Unfortunately, the same enhancements that can put us “in the mood” can also wreak havoc on our salivary glands leading to cotton mouth and its good friend, halitosis. According to researchers at the University of Buenos Aires, saliva reduction has been linked to alcohol and THC consumption.

“When there isn’t enough saliva in the mouth, the bacteria that cause bad breath can thrive,” says Dr. Harold Katz, a dentist and founder of the California Breath Clinic (yes, apparently it’s a thing). But, that doesn’t mean you need to put the kibosh on pre-romance imbibing. Don’t leave home this V-Day without Dr. Katz’s “oxygenating” TheraBreath Dry Mouth Oral Rinse and Lozenges. In addition, Katz’s website (therabreath.com) offers a free online bad breath test – as well as a tactful tips on telling your sweetie they have dragon breath.

He also offers these tips to budding Casanovas:

• Drink more water. Katz suggests at least six to eight glasses a day, which comes to about 48 to 64 ounces assuming an 8-ounce glass.

• Avoid alcohol. This advice isn’t limited to just alcoholic beverages. Some mouthwashes are as much as 27 percent alcohol, which, unfortunately, is also a cause of dry mouth.

• Avoid spicy, acidic and sugary foods. Without saliva to offer protection to the lining of the mouth, these foods can be irritating. In addition, saliva helps break down sugar in foods. Without it, there’s an increased risk of tooth decay.

And of course, don’t put your elbows on the table, chew with your mouth open or forget your date’s name – all of which have also been shown to be deterrents to getting action.