Looking for a foolproof method to test the freshness of your breath? An oral health expert shares the one thing you can do to clear your doubts once and for all.
You sometimes ask yourself this question, just before a date, an important meeting or even a trivial conversation. You wonder if your breath is really fresh. And this doubt can remain, even with impeccable oral hygiene. The reason: our sense of smell, which adapts very quickly to our own smells. Relying on your feelings can therefore be misleading.
Our brains are very good at protecting us from sensory overload. It filters and gets used. This is why we no longer smell our perfume after a few minutes, we no longer notice the smell of our interior and we cannot perceive our own breath. According to dentists, this is precisely why “classic” tests are unreliable. Due to a phenomenon of habituation, the nose ends up ignoring our own smell in order to remain alert to external stimuli. Result ? Blowing into your hand does absolutely no good. However, according to a dentist well known on the networks, there is a simple and quick gesture which allows you to have a reliable response.
On Instagram, the @Dr.Never reveals a method that is all the rage to know if your breath is fresh or not. It requires no tools, just a little discretion. Here is the protocol to follow to obtain an immediate diagnosis. Simply lick the inside of your wrist or forearm (choose a clean, fragrance-free area of skin).
Wait about 10 seconds for the saliva to air dry slightly. Feel the area. If the smell is neutral, the day can continue with a light mind. If, on the other hand, there is a slight acidic odor, this is simply a sign that certain compounds in saliva are noticeable, and that the breath perhaps deserves a little more attention.
If the test is positive, forget about menthol sprays which only mask the problem for a few minutes. Instead, drink a large glass of water and brush your tongue because it is the main source of your bad breath.
