By April MacIntyre Feb 9, 2010, 0:32 GMT
Valentine's Day is nigh, and one of the cheapest and easiest ways to enjoy the romantic holiday is to spend it kissing, a lot.
Photo courtesy of Rodin's The Kiss (Francesca da Rimini), Musee Rodin, Paris
But you can blow the mood if you make some bad decisions while out on a date or even prior. Bad breath is not what people want for Valentine's Day.
Most people think bad breath comes from the stomach, which is not true except in cases of severe illness or an untreated disease.
At least 90 percent of all bad breath is caused by millions of bacteria that naturally exist in your mouth. They produce a nasty-smelling gas — your garden variety "stanking" bad breath.
On movie and television productions, the makeup and personal trailers are armed with the usual suspects of mouthwash, toothbrushes and Altoids a-plenty. But there is more you can do to prevent Halitosis and be kissable without wondering if you are offensive.
Top New York City cosmetic dentist Thomas Connelly contact Monsters and Critics and offered some great tips to keep you in business this Holiday.
1. Floss. Bad breath can be caused by food still hanging out in between your teeth long after your meal is over.
If you are lazy, get those teal colored GUM floss sticks (they hold up the best, not flimsy, seen in makeup trailers all over SoCal) that come in a bag and keep them everywhere: purse, car and coat pocket so you never have food rotting between your teeth.
2. Chew your garnish! Parsley and Basil are both well-known home remedies for bad breath. Mint too, and make sure you have floss sticks so you don't look like a fool when you smile with green stuff in your teeth.
3. Scrape that Tongue! You heard me, invest in a scraper.
I have found a great brand on a top reality dance show that I tried out and fell in love with: Supersmile Tongue Cleaners.
The makeup artist who hipped me to these heard J-Lo and Johnny Depp were fans of these scrapers too. While “scraping” your tongue may not sound as appealing as brushing, it’s actually a lot healthier for your mouth. When you brush your tongue, the bristles catch the bacteria, so next time you brush you might actually redistribute the germs to your teeth and gums. Yuck.
4. Hydrate! Go figure, water will help thwart the dehydration effect of alcohol (and the rank smell). Order one glass of water for every drink and you’ll stay sober and smell sweet. If you are drinking on a date, order Mojitos with fresh mint.
5. Go fruity! Order the fruit for dessert. Fresh fruits have acidic properties that help to cleanse your mouth after a meal and flush away odor-causing bacteria. Way better for your breath than cheesecake or ice cream.
The No No list for Kiss Kiss date night:
1. The evil Carbohydrates! They cause the strongest breath odors. Foods that contain a lot of sugars, starches, and cellulose are all culprits. Many times worse than Garlic.
2. Booze! Dark alcohol like Bourbon, Scotch and Canadian Whisky are rank breath makers, so go light, or go fresh like a Mojito, or a vodka drink blended with soda. Wine makes for horrid breath, better to avoid if you have some serious tonsil hockey in your immediate future, ditto for Champagne (sugars) and Gin, the only clear booze that really offends.
Alcohol dries out the mouth, which reduces saliva production; saliva helps to cleanse your mouth. Alcohol consumption also causes digestive problems, which leads to bad breath. So ease up on the cocktails or you’ll be heading to the bathroom for more than one reason.
3. Coffee! Avoid at all costs, even the Frapps.
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