Today is National Kissing Day- so it makes sense that we should all pucker up for your partners! But a third of Brits might avoid lip locking with their loved one today due to bad breath says CB12. They are not shy about telling their partners either. It's is no surprise that 46% were mortified to hear the news that their breath was putting their partner off going in for a snog, with only 3% laughing it off.
Why does my boyfriend not brush his teeth?
Chew gum!
A quarter of Brits have noticed when their partner has bad breath, especially after a romantic meal where garlic might be one of the main flavourings. Sugary snacks are also to blame for making their puffing pongy.
Intimate situations can cause anxiety if you are constantly worrying about your breath; Luke Thorley, Dentist, states: "I often see patients who are embarrassed by their foul breath, to the extent that it is limiting their social life and causing them to talk with hands over their mouths."
Luke Thorley provides his top three tips to help you achieve minty fresh breath on National Kissing Day and beyond:
Chew sugar-free gum: CB12 boost chewing gum is a specially formulated sugar-free gum which contains zinc acetate to neutralise odour, making you confident to move in a little closer.
Stay hydrated: Dehydration causes oral bacteria to thrive, resulting in production of malodorous gases. Drink plenty of water to increase saliva flow, as this will help to wash away food residue in your mouth.
Check your breath: Licking the inside of your wrist with the back part of your tongue is the best way to test your breath. This will give a true reflection of breath freshness before moving in for a kiss.
Bad breath guru and founder of The Breath Company, Dr Harold Katz has expanded on this even further- you should never have bad breath again!
Brush and floss regularly but avoid hard soap in toothpaste
Brushing helps eradicate the plaque and bacteria on your teeth, however some toothpastes contain sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS), a soapy detergent that creates foam but has no cleaning benefit. The additive has recently been linked to serious side effects including canker sores.
Flossing is an extra step, but it's an important one, as it helps get in between the teeth where toothbrushes sometimes miss.
Smoking is bad for you, and for your BREATH!
Smoking quickly dries out the mouth and introduces nicotine and tar, which contributes to making an even more complex unpleasant odour. If you are a smoker, then bad breath is going to be a certainty.
Use a mouthwash
Using a mouthwash is a good way to help with tooth decay and gum disease. However, it is recommended not to use a mouthwash straight after brushing, but instead choose a different time to do it.
Strong mouthwashes that contain alcohol are not good for you. In fact, research published in The Australian Dental Journal had recently shown a potential link between alcohol-based mouthwash and oral cancer.
There is as much alcohol in a capful of typical mouthwash as there is in a shot of vodka which will irritate the inside of your mouth. It is possible to fail a breathalyzer test after rinsing with a strong alcohol based mouthwash. Plus alcohol will dry your mouth, which is one of the causes of bad breath!
Keep your tongue in tip top condition
Those with deep grooves or fissures tend to have bad breath as fissures provide an ideal environment for bacteria to multiply.
A tongue scraper is NOT recommended for those that have hairy tongues (a condition referring to tongue fibres that are slightly longer than the norm), scarping them can lead to irritation and injury for people with this condition.
Tongue scraping by itself is not particularly effective. It is kind of like using a toothbrush without a toothpaste. Excessive or overly aggressive scraping can also result in injury!
For a clean tongue use a tongue scraper or toothbrush and gently apply some toothpaste to the tongue's surface. This will help remove waste and odour from the bacteria that live deep in the tongue's papillae or fibres while soothing tongue irritation.
The Breath Company oral care range is the number one selling oral care products in the US and Canada, that will target the sulphur producing bacteria and freshen breath for up to 12 hours without the use of alcohol, artificial flavours or colours. Available in Boots and Superdrug, prices start from £8.99