Kissing 101: 10+ Ways to Make Your Kiss Taste Fresh and Sweet

Co-authored by Eddy Baller and Emily Liu

Last Updated: November 6, 2021 References

Kissing is a great way to share intimacy with your partner and express your affection⁠—and what’s even better than a normal kiss is a sweet one! Whether you want to make sure your first kiss is unforgettable, or make kissing funner than ever before, just follow these tips to get the sweetest and freshest tasting kisses.

1

Suck on some mints.

Sweeten your breath quickly with mints. Mints improve your breath, but they also come in many flavors that can make your kiss sweeter. Like gum, mints also aid in stimulating saliva flow.^{[1]
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- For instance, you could go with peppermint, spearmint, or even cinnamon!

2

Have some hard candy.

Candy can add a punch of sweetness to your mouth. After you eat candy, your taste buds and brain will register its sweetness, and some of it may carry over to your kiss. Experiment with different and fun flavors to find out what tastes best to you and your partner!^{[2]
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- Try lollipops or flavored hard candies (fruity, butterscotch, mint, etc.)
- Chocolate might be messier, but you can give it a shot if you and your partner both like it!

3

Chew sugar-free gum.

Stick with the tried-and-true way to freshen your breath. Gum comes in lots of flavors that can help make your kiss sweeter. It also helps clean out bacteria by increasing saliva flow.^{[3]
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- Look for sugar-free gum to prevent tooth decay.

4

Put on flavored lip balm.

Make your kiss fresher by choosing a mint lip balm. While you’re kissing, the menthol in the lip balm will trigger cold receptors, causing a tingly sensation that can spice up your kiss.^{[4]
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- Menthol can irritate some people’s skin, so hold off on using it if your lips tend to be sensitive.
- There are other flavors out there, too!

5

Eat fruit beforehand.

Take advantage of fruit’s natural sweetness. Eating fruit activates the sweetness receptors in your mouth, making the kiss sweeter because you’ve primed your sense of taste. If you want your partner to experience the same sweetness, have them eat some fruit too.^{[5]
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- Great fruits to try include strawberries, oranges, and melons.
- Crunchy fruits like apples have the additional benefit of scraping out plaque build-up, which can cause bad breath.^{[6]
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- If you want to get more romantic, you can even feed the fruit to your partner.

6

Munch on cinnamon.

Spice things up with cinnamon. Chewing on a cinnamon stick will not only leave a nice taste, but also freshen your breath because it may contain essential oils that help kill bacteria in your mouth.^{[7]
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7

Nibble on fresh herbs.

Chew on herbs for a minty taste. Herbs like mint and parsley can help make your kiss sweeter while also covering up any bad breath⁠: parsley contains chlorophyll that helps counter sulfur, while mint helps freshen breath.^{[8]
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- You could even order drinks with mint leaves if you’re out on a date!

8

Sip a sweet beverage.

Sweet beverages can transfer their taste to your kiss like a sweet food.^{[9]
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Research source} If you’re bored of sucking mints or eating candy or fruit, mix things up with a sweet drink of your choice.
- Have some juice or soda, or perhaps a hot chocolate or milkshake.
- You could even get the best of both worlds by blending up a fruit smoothie!
- Sweet alcoholic drinks like cocktails could also work, but be aware that alcohol can cause a dry mouth and worse breath in the long-term.^{[10]
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9

Drink green tea.

Green tea can help freshen your breath. Research suggests that compounds in green tea may be able to remove and inhibit bacterial growth. Green tea is also a natural and easily accessible option.^{[11]
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10

Rinse with mouthwash.

Mouthwash can make your breath extra fresh. If you want an additional freshness boost before you kiss, use your mouthwash of choice, making sure to follow the instructions on the bottle.^{[12]
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- Use an alcohol-free mouthwash so you don’t dry out your mouth.

11

Brush your teeth regularly.

Practicing good dental hygiene improves your mouth’s condition. Brushing your teeth will lead to better, fresher breath in the long-term⁠—so brush at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.^{[13]
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- Don’t forget to brush your tongue! This will help remove odors.
- You should also floss daily to remove plaque and food bits, which cause bad breath.