Try mouthwashes that neutralize odor-causing Volatile Sulfur Compounds (VSC). They’re hard to find. Try sites like www.dentist.net.
From a reader:
My paint-peeling breath is seriously affecting my sex life. I brush, floss, use mouthwashes, and pop Altoids but nothing works. My chances with people go from Game On to Game Over in one exhalation. Help!
— Wilt
Dear Wilt:
I know what you mean. At one point, my breath was so bad my dentist would only treat me over the phone. Fortunately, he introduced me to special mouthwashes that neutralize odor-causing Volatile Sulfur Compounds (VSC). They’re hard to find so check with your dentist or sites like www.dentist.net. Make sure they contain chlorine dioxide, zinc ion or sodium chlorite. They’ll do to VSC what you’re breath does to your hookups: Make them wish they’d never gone home with you.
Gargle with the mouthwash and make that “aaaaahh” sound — it extends your tongue, letting the rinse cover hard-to-reach places where VSC like to hide. Next, scrape your tongue like there’s a hottie’s phone number under it. Tongues trap millions of microscopic food particles that eventually become VSC.
Also, lose the Altoids. They don’t stimulate the body’s most effective weapon against bad breath: Saliva. Try hard candy, instead. Better yet, sugarless gum. Epic may be your best bet since it has the heaviest concentration of xylitol, a sugar substitute known for saliva production. Or Big Red. Recent studies show cinnamon has an ingredient that decreases bacteria in the mouth. By the way, there’s a reason your morning breath makes your dates lose their short-term memory: Sleep dramatically slows down saliva production.
One more suggestion: Water. You remember water? It’s a mixer for whiskey. It flushes out bacteria so drink lots of it (the water, not whiskey). Finally, don’t forget to brush, floss, scrape, rinse and drink *daily* or you’ll go back to starting forest fires every time you sigh.