How To Be A Good Kisser

It's International Kissing Day! If you’re planning on puckering up, don’t let bad technique or stinky breath spoil the fun.

Kissing, relationship and body language expert Katia Loisel knows the importance of a good kiss. She told Elite Singles, “In additional to leaving us feeling as though we’re walking on clouds, research has found that kissing promotes connection and relaxation, improves perceived relationship satisfaction and self-esteem, reduces stress and anxiety and boosts the immune system. "During a hot passionate kiss all of our senses are activated and convey information about our genetic make-up and compatibility. This information helps us to make a subconscious decision about whether our kissing partner is suitable.” Katia shares her top 5 kissing no-nos! The sloppy kiss: It’s generally men that go for the full-on sloppy kiss because a big wet open-mouthed kiss releases testosterone. This can help women get in the mood… but don’t go for too much too soon. The dead fish: Nothing’s going to turn someone off faster than the dead fish. Kissing is a game best played with two – so if you’re into them, don’t just sit there, show some enthusiasm and let them know that you’re into the kiss as well. The tongue down the throat: You might not be able to take your hands off them, but don’t turn kissing into a competition to see how long they can hold their breath. The darting tongue: Darting your mouth in and out of their mouth like a snake isn’t likely to get you a second date. Studies show that men rate tongue kissing higher than women, so spice things up by alternating between a hot and heavy smooch and a more sensual kiss. The hard kiss: Avoid plunging into the hard kiss (usually accompanied by a gentle grab of the hair or pushing up against a hard surface) unless you’ve tested the waters first. Of course, if they lunge at you first or they’re into it, then it’s all systems go! Hopefully you’re now feeling confident about your kissing technique, but don’t let bad breath spoil your chances of getting up close and personal with someone in the first place. Read on to discover how to feel minty fresh.. So, what exactly is bad breath? ‘Almost all cases of bad breath involve a group of anaerobic sulphur-producing bacteria which live below the surface of your tongue, in your throat and often in your tonsils,’ explains Dr Harold Katz, dentist, bacteriologist and founder of The Breath Co. ‘These bacteria react to changes in their environment by producing odorous Volatile Sulphur Compounds (VSCs). These VSCs include hydrogen sulphide (which smells like rotten eggs), methyl mercaptan (which smells like old gym socks), putrescine and cadaverine (which smells like old rubbish) and several other chemicals.’ For female readers, the bad news is that women are more likely to suffer from bad breath. ‘Women are more likely to experience it because of hormone changes or medication such as HRT, but 35 per cent of the world’s population (both male and female) have a chronic, noticeable breath condition,’ says Dr Katz. ‘Another 35 per cent are ‘borderline’, meaning that their breath seems fresh throughout the day, but can easily reach chronic levels if they eat certain foods or are taking certain medication.’ Give your mouth an MOT Asking your loved ones to sniff the inside of our mouth might well be a passion killer (although we don’t recommend asking total strangers, either) but it’s one of three simple ways to check your breath. ‘You can either ask a friend or family member or you can try two simple tests,’ says James Goolnik at Bow Lane Dental Group. ‘First take a piece of unwaxed, unflavoured floss and floss between your back teeth, wait 30 seconds and then smell it. Does it smell bad? Secondly, lick your wrist, wait 30 seconds and then smell it. Does it smell bad?’ If the answer is yes, then the next stop should be the dentist. ‘Your dentist will take a look inside your mouth, diagnose the cause of any bad breath and show you ways of treating it,’ says James Goolnik. ‘If gum disease is the cause then the pockets between the teeth and gums can be professionally cleaned.’

So how can we avoid that dreaded visit to the dentist? ‘The first thing you can do is brush and floss correctly to remove the bacteria producing these gases,’ says James at Bow Lane Dental Group. ‘Most people find flossing difficult, which is why there is a whole range of devises to clean between your teeth. We find dental sticks are the best – they come in different sizes for different gaps (often denoted by different colours). You want to try to use the size which fits snuggly between the teeth. The next item isn’t likely to be the most sexy piece of kit in your toiletry bag, but it’s an essential. ‘Clean your tongue using a toothbrush or a tongue scraper,’ suggests James Goolnik. ‘This is important because your tongue has lots of small hairs which trap the bacteria, leading to bad breath.’ You might be surprised to learn that your mouthwash could also be responsible for bouts of bad breath. Alcohol kills germs but it also dries out the inside of the mouth, reducing the moisture which helps wash bacteria away. Instead, opt for one that contains some kind of chlorine dioxide, which is used to break down the gases that cause bad breath, and swill around the mouth for at least 30 seconds. Brush up Our final tip is an obvious one, but one that people often forget. ‘It sounds crazy but a lot of people don’t know how to brush their teeth properly,’ says Henry Clover. ‘Bacteria can build up in your mouth and release unpleasant gases, so it’s important to remove bacteria and plaque by brushing your teeth for two minutes, twice a day. Make sure that you’re cleaning between your teeth every day to remove plaque and food particles stuck, as these will start to smell as they break down. If you’re not sure you’re brushing properly, just ask your dentist or hygienist to show you the most effective techniques – they will be happy to help.’