The moment to lean in and slowly close your eyes, open your mouth a little and pucker up. Your warm lips press against his, and then it hits you. Like a punch in the face, his breath is so bad that you instantly pull away in disgust and pass off your gagging as a new dance move.

The kiss is the most crucial physical aspect of any liaison. Whether a fling or a date, it is always there, and there is a ton of pressure mounting on it - so much so that if your breath doesn't smell of mint then you may end up home alone. But what if he's so darn hot that you can't bear the idea of politely making an excuse and heading for the nearest exit to get some fresh air?

Your first course of action would be to race to the bar and buy the boy a strong lolly drink. Make sure he downs at least half the bottle before you try to kiss again. A nice fruity kiss is better than a rotten-sock smooch.

Failing that, there are tons of other places you can kiss besides the mouth. And no, I'm not talking about below the waist - that should come after you have the breath situation under control. You can kiss his neck, shoulder, hands or even nibble at the ear. He'll think you're being a tease and making him wait, when really, you're just avoiding the pash till you can get hold of some gum. 

Speaking of which, I recommend you get a hold of some strong mints. They not only provide fresh kissable breath, but also add stimulation to a certain body part when connected to the mouth.

Remember: yes, a bad kiss can be a real turn-off, but so as can a bad reaction. Try to be subtle and fix your man's breath with a minimum of fuss. But keep in mind that a kiss is a preview to the main event, so if the breath stinks, then his moves under the sheets may stink too.

by KLINTON PORTER