So you have a great new suit, dinner reservations at the hippest new restaurant and you’re primed for a first date that you (and hopefully your date) will not soon forget. The night goes perfectly and you’re walking her home, but just as you lean in for the first kiss, she suddenly gets really sleepy and runs inside. What happened? Is it possible that even the best new suit and the most romantic dinner she’s ever had couldn’t make up for your reeking breath? Here are five ways to see if that’s what caused her to hit the brakes on your great evening:
- Ask for the honest truth. The simplest, and way to check is to simply ask someone who’s close to you. Your buddies or your mother will hopefully clue you in gently. Granted, we all get bad breath every once in a while, but they’ll tell you if it’s an ongoing issue.
- Tupperware test. If don’t think your ego’s up for a harsh truth, you can check on your own using a piece of tupperware. Take a piece that fits over your nose and mouth (make sure it’s clean, of course) and breathe into it as if you were trying to inflate it. That gives you the direct experience.
- Wrist test. This is a great method when you’re in the field. The second your date excuses herself, you can check your breath by licking the inside of your wrist(if you’re discreet, no one will notice what you’re doing). Let it dry for one minute and then sniff. If you have dragon breath, the sulphur salts will transfer to your skin.
- Spoon test. This one can check the back of your tongue for offending odors. Take a spoon, turn it upside down and gently scrape the very back of your tongue. You’ll probably gag from the spoon, so be careful. Once you’ve successfully scraped, the spoon will have a thick, whitish or brownish goo. Take a sniff and see what that tells you.
- The floss test. Once you’re done flossing, especially the back teeth, smell your floss (incidentally, if you haven’t flossed lately, you probably have bad breath). If it’s a little rough, then so is your breath.
More than a social embarrassment, bad breath can be a symptom of a more serious problem. If you discover that your breath is bad more often than not, talk to your dentist and/or doctor about it.
