As a dental expert with 30 years of experience, I can confidently say that bad breath (halitosis) can definitely affect kissing, especially with your girlfriend or partner. Bad breath can be off-putting and may make your partner uncomfortable, reducing intimacy. The good news is that it’s treatable and preventable with the right oral care and habits.

Best Mouthwashes for Fresh Breath

Not all mouthwashes are equal—some just mask odor, while others kill bacteria. Here are the best types to use:

Important Facts About Overnight Denture Wear

Many denture wearers don't realize that keeping their false teeth in at night can cause serious problems. Here's what you need to know about proper denture care and why nightime removal matters.

The Hidden Dangers of Sleeping in Dentures

1. Germs and Infections

• Your mouth needs to breathe at night

• Trapped bacteria leads to:

  • Red, swollen gums (denture stomatitis)

Living in Switzerland, a country famed for its high standard of living and safety net, I always thought of myself as secure. My name is James, and until last year, I was a project manager living in Zurich. Then, a company restructuring cost me my job. What followed was a fast, terrifying spiral that no amount of planning could have prepared me for. Job loss led to financial strain, which led to profound stress, which, I'm convinced, led to the agonizing tooth infection that became my breaking point.

The Fountain: A New York Story About What Keeps Us Going

The thing about saliva is that you never think about it until it’s gone. For Leo, a second-generation bookbinder in a tiny West Village shop that smelled of dust and leather, that moment came on a Tuesday. He was painstakingly repairing the spine of a 19th-century poetry anthology when a dry, papery feeling seized his tongue. A profound, unquenchable thirst. It was the first whisper of what his doctor would later call xerostomia—a side effect of new medication, a simple drying up of the well.