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I remember my first kiss like it was yesterday. Although it was a while back, I can still recall the surprise of being caught off-guard, settling into the kiss and feeling dazed afterwards. This ‘feeling dazed’ is what I ended up using to distinguish between memorable kisses and the ones I wish I could erase from my memory.
Fast-forward a few years, I had gathered enough experience to know that when the kiss is bad there’s no way that relationship will last. Even when you have amazing chemistry, when it boils down to the kiss, if it’s not good, the relationship quickly goes downhill.
After speaking to a number of people about their experiences, I found it a good idea to share bad kissing habits, and give tips on how to kiss well.
Below are some bad kissing habits.
1. Bad breath
This is a complete turn-off, whether you’re kissing or just talking. In this day and age of rows and rows of toothpaste and mouthwashes, chewing gum that promises minty fresh breath and dentists’ clinics popping up all over the place, you have no excuse to have bad breath. Before you lean in, pop a chicklet or two in your mouth, offer him/her one and get chewing. Chewing gum not only freshens your breath but it also helps dislodge food particles that might have been caught between your teeth, ensuring that your mouth is clean.
2. Too much saliva
Most of the people I spoke to, particularly ladies, said this was the biggest deal-breaker. There is no need to transfer your saliva to your partner’s mouth or face for that matter.
3. Poor aim
This was another big no-no. Some people said that a kiss that ended up not on the lips but nose, chin or cheeks, put them off completely. One person even said his date kissed his upper lip and he could feel her tongue brushing against his teeth! If you must kiss, aim for the lips, neck and other erogenous zones, unless you intentionally wanted to kiss her forehead or cheek.
4. Teeth
One man spoke about protruding teeth getting in the way, while another said her braces broke off and he swallowed it! Bumping teeth can happen before you get your rhythm but avoid opening your mouth so wide that your teeth actually meet.
Instead of the above, do the following:
a. Exfoliate your lips
Cracked lips are a complete turn-off. A simple cure for chapped lips is to pass your toothbrush over them when you’re brushing your teeth. A sugar and honey scrub will also help get rid of cracked lips. There’s also no shame in carrying some lip balm with you to keep your lips moisturised.
b. Ensure you’re somewhere comfortable
Some people like PDA, others don’t. Before you embark on knocking her socks off, make sure you’re in a place where you can both be comfortable.
c. Pace yourself
Start slow and build up the intensity gradually, there’s no hurry. Allow your date to come up for air once in a while. You don’t want her falling unconscious in your arms.
d. Know what to do with your tongue
One of my best kisses had very little tongue involved. There was no exploring of each other’s teeth or mouth crevices. My face never got drenched with saliva. A tongue that darts in and out of your mouth is just as weird as one that leaves you wet all over.
e. Include caresses
Don’t focus so much on the lips and leave your hands hanging limply by your side. Hold hands, caress each other. One thing that I discovered I enjoyed was gently nibbling each other’s lower lip to change things up.
By following these steps you will be well on your way to becoming an excellent kisser.
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