A gentleman’s breath should not offend.
There is nothing more universally expected in modern society as clean teeth and fresh breath. While this seems simple, many a man will neglect this, even if he thinks he is doing well. Antonio Centeno of Real Men Real Style put together an excellent video on this very topic. For those unable to watch the video, the highlights are hit upon just below.
Quick tips:
- Don’t keep your tooth brush too long
- Brush for a good two to three minutes
- Don’t rinse with water – use mouthwash
- Don’t keep the toothbrush in the bathroom
- Be sure to floss after eating
- Clean the tongue and the roof of the mouth
- Use a soft toothbrush – never medium or hard
- Brush in circles
- Brush in a 45 degree angle
- Don’t use a routine when brushing
- Don’t over brush – twice a day should be fine
- Wait at least 30 minutes after eating to brush
These are all very simple tips. I’m going to add few more.
It is better to use mints than gum in public. Save gum for lonely car rides. This is not a hard rule, the point being not chew in public. It is rather ungentlemanly. Carrying mints, like Tic-Tacs, will keep breath smelling good, and one should be sure to offer mints to others.
Brush before bed. Studies have shown one’s heart will be healthier if the brush before bed.
After adjusting the data for cardiovascular risk factors such as obesity,smoking, social class, and family heart disease history, the researchers found that people who admitted to brushing their teeth less frequently had a 70% extra risk of heart disease. – Bill Hendrick, WebMD
Lastly, while whitened teeth are all the rage, be careful when whitening. Be sure not to damage the teeth. It is better to avoid bad habits, such as coffee or tobacco, that stain teeth in the first place.
Final thought
First impressions are key and, along with behavior and dress, teeth – more especially one’s breath – are strong factors in making a great first impression.