Is bad breath the greatest enemy to overall travel freshness? Your
fellow airplane passengers apparently think so. According to a
Skyscanner poll of more than 1,000 people, the largest number (19
percent) felt that "those with bad breath and BO" made the worst
seatmates.
So what to do to avoid that foul, sticky taste in the mouth and that
look of revulsion from your neighbor on the plane or metro? Beyond the
obvious mints or gum, and avoidance of garlic and kimchi (spicy pickled
cabbage being the most popular variety), there are a number of products
that promote oral hygiene on the road. Colgate Wisps are disposable
mini-toothbrushes that provide a quick and easy mouth-freshening option
when you can't brush your teeth for real. The brush head has a
freshening bead that releases a mouth cleaning liquid when you scrub,
and a pick on the opposite end provides a floss option. It requires no
water to use, and the ingredients are safe to swallow (except for the
brush itself, of course!).
Another product of choice is Listerine PocketMist, introduced to me
as part of a hotel's complimentary in-room toiletries. This is Binaca
for the modern age -- in a smaller key-chain-sized container and with a
more potent punch. You can literally feel the bacteria being singed
away.
There are also a number of foods that, rather than encouraging
halitosis, help clean out the mouth. Granny Smith apples are one such
option, their tartness sparking the mouth's natural washing mechanism,
salivation. Lemons and limes work great as well; ask the flight
attendant for one.
