Avoid Bad Breath Nightmare

British men should ensure their breath is brilliant before embarking on a new relationship, according to a recent survey.

Research by BioRepair toothpaste found that 41 per cent of UK women confessed that their worst morning-after nightmare is to wake up to a partner who had bad breath.

While nearly half of women were fearful about their partner's breath, only one in four claimed that getting naked in front of their new man was the most frightening dating scenario.

The study also discovered that one in three males are concerned by 'morning mouth' and one in four fear being stood up on a date compared with just six percent of women.

Louise Fair, spokeswoman for the toothpaste firm, said: "It was surprising just how fearful Brits are of having morning breath in front of a new partner, especially as this came in as more embarrassing than being naked in front of a new partner."

Morning breath occurs because the mouth is exposed to less oxygen and is inactive during the night but brushing teeth, flossing, or using mouthwash can usually eliminate any smells.

People worried about the odour of their breath are advised to brush and scrape their tongue because in the majority of cases bad breath originates in the mouth itself and is exacerbated by consuming certain foods.

Scraping the back of the tongue should remove any offending bacteria as this part of the tongue is relatively unclean and can harbour smells from bacteria which thrives on remnants of food.

It is sensible to avoid foods such as garlic, onions and fish, and to steer clear of consuming too much alcohol and tobacco as this will increase the chances of having unpleasant smelling breath.

People living in the capital who are anxious that they might be suffering from halitosis should visit a dentist as they will be able to examine whether there is a serious condition to treat.

Meanwhile, the British Dental Foundation (BDF) has said the recent rise in value added tax (VAT) could have a positive effect on the nation's teeth as confectioners are reducing the size of their bars to maintain profit levels.

Dr Nigel Carter, of the BDF, said: "A sweet treat for the taste buds creates an acid attack for the teeth. In turn, too frequent consumption of any confectionery could lead to a mouth of decayed teeth, and a difficult job for the dentist."

The BDF has warned people against consuming too much biscuits, baked beans and tomato ketchup as these foods contain large amounts of sugar.


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