Ever catch a whiff of a terrible odor and realize it’s coming from you? Even worse: What do you do when your deodorant deserts you, your gum is long gone, and you have to freshen up on the fly? Here are five stinkin’ scenarios, and how to fumigate each one.
The smelly situation: Your breath is going south in the middle of a date.
Sidestep the stink:
You can also chomp on chewy produce, like an apple, says Patricia Lenton, M.A., of the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry. Crunching on those foods (and washing them down with water) physically removes some of the bacteria growing in your mouth. Drop by your dentist’s office if your stinky breath continues to have a sour smell—it could be a symptom of gum disease, says Paster.
The smelly situation: You’ll be shaking lots of hands tonight, but your fingers still smell like grease and gasoline from working in the garage.
Sidestep the stink:
The smelly situation: You’re worried that your coworkers might smell your foul feet.
Sidestep the stink:
The smelly situation: You smell like a Monday-morning hangover.
Sidestep the stink:
More importantly, remember that what you drink could foster a foul smell long after the party’s over. According to research, darker beverages like stouts tend to be associated with more alcohol odor and bad breath than clearer drinks.
The smelly situation: You reek of secondhand cigarette smoke.
