Good news for anyone who knows a close-talker or people with absolutely no respect for personal space. Now more than ever, there's simply no excuse (was there ever?) for bad breath.
I used to think this was just a problem made up in Listerine and Tic Tac commercials. That was until I worked with a creative director who had the problem. It was the only agency I ever worked at where people arrived early for meetings, then jockeyed for the seat furthest away from him/her (I'm not telling). It was bad, and it may explain why the agency didn't do well in new business meetings.
But now with the plethora of mints to choose from at checkout, usually right below the tabloids featuring some escapade of the Kardashians (why doesn't anyone ask them where their dad put OJ's knife already?), your breath can smell minty fresh in a variety of ways.
However with the popularity of Altoids, Tic Tacs, Trident and Orbit (alright, the last two are technically gum - but really, what are you using it for: "chewing pleasure?"), we now have a choice of dedicated breath fresheners in paper, metal or plastic containers.
The challenge of course is to let the mint dissolve all the way instead of chewing it. I usually get about three-quarters of the way, then chew it like rock candy. Peppermint Altoids is my mint of choice. I have a tin in the car, in my briefcase and - when I'm working at an agency - at my desk. I think of it as the crack of breath mints. I pop 'em three and four at a time, and have built up a disturbing immunity to their "curiously strong" flavor.
Often co-workers, spouses and friends aren't aware that their breath smells like a landfill. Fortunately, Altoids also come in inexpensive, small tins as well. Which makes it that much easier if you have a colleague who could use a little breath freshening to discreetly leave one on their desk.
After all, there's a reason mint rhymes with hint.
