Before reaching for your cup of java tomorrow morning better do a breath check first. According to a recent survey, more than three quarters of all Canadians drink coffee each and every day. But isn’t it slightly ridiculous to think that a cup of coffee – and a case of bad breath – could jeopardize career aspirations and relationships with fellow colleagues? Apparently not. Just ask the 83 per cent of us who believe that bad breath is an image-breaker at work.

Your Cup of Joe
So, how much are we drinking? Thirty-nine per cent of us drink one to two cups of coffee a day and 15 per cent need their caffeine jolt three to four times daily. But only eight per cent of us drink five or more cups a day. Not surprisingly, coffee consumption jumps to 40 per cent with Canadians 35 to 44 years of age, and the 55 plus crowd (50%). And guess what? Coffee and cohabitation appear to go hand in hand, as married Canadians quaff the most java (59%), compared to singles (39%).

So, we drink a lot of coffee. But do we know what causes coffee breath? Apparently not, as more than 68 per cent of coffee drinkers are unsure of the cause behind the odour.

“Bacteria is really what causes bad breath,” says dental hygienist Barbara Elliot. “Odour occurs when bacteria feed on particles of residue food or beverages in our mouths. As the bacteria feed, sulphur compounds are released that make your breath smell – what results is commonly known as bad breath. There’s a school of thought that the acid in coffee can cause bacteria to reproduce quickly. Yet, more often than not it’s the sugar or cream we add to our favourite brew that contributes to the odour. Bacteria thrive on sugar and some people cannot break down the lactose found in dairy, leaving them prone to sulphur build-up.”

Coffee Karma
But can bad breath affect your image? A whopping 83 per cent of us say yes. Residents of Manitoba and Saskatchewan lead the pack (91%), followed by Atlantic Canadians (85%), Ontarians (84%) and British Columbians (82%).

“Smell is the most powerful of the five senses,” says Karen Brunger, corporate image consultant. “With all areas of social interaction, aroma or odour plays an integral role – especially in the corporate world. If a person has an unpleasant aroma, we tend to subconsciously associate this with their overall image. It’s a very subtle evaluation – sometimes one we’re not even aware we’re conducting. However, it can be a powerful indicator for forming impressions and making decisions.”

So, when it comes to our own coffee breath, how do Canadians really feel? Out of 47 per cent of Canadians who have actually experienced coffee breath, self-conscious is the number one response, followed by embarrassed, unclean and unprofessional.

But don’t panic. You don’t have to give up your morning jolt to avoid coffee breath.

“The first step is to maintain good oral care habits, such as brushing, flossing and rinsing with a therapeutic mouthwash to kill the bacteria and remove leftover food particles,” says Elliot. “But while many of us are diligent at home, recent data shows 70 per cent of Canadian coffee drinkers don’t brush their teeth or use a mouthwash at the office. In fact, more than 75 per cent of coffee drinkers rely on gums or mints, which if sweetened, actually makes your breath worse as the bacteria feed on the sugar.”

“For my corporate clients, I suggest avoiding foods rich in sulphur, such as onions and eggs and to decrease their intake of sugar as bacteria thrive on it. In the office environment, portable oral breath strips, like PocketPaks, are also a good choice as they are discreet and fit easily into a jacket or pant pocket,” says Brunger. “But be sure to look for products that are sugar free that don’t fuel the bacteria and freshen your breath on contact.”

Side Bar:

YOUR COFFEE COUNTER - How do you Score?

1. How do you drink your coffee?
a) Black (1 point)
b) With milk (2 points)
c) With milk and sugar (3 points)
d) Specialty coffee (latte/cappuccino, etc.) (3 points)
Points:

2. Do you drink coffee first thing in the morning?
a) No (0 points)
b) Yes (1 point)
Points:

3. How much coffee do you drink daily at work?
a) 1 cup (1 point)
b) 2-3 cups (2 points)
c) 3-4 cups (3 points)
d) 4 or more cups (4 points)
Points:

4. Do you use mints or gums during the day to freshen your breath?
a) No (0 points)
b) Yes (1 point)
Points:

5. Do you brush your teeth at work?
a) No (1 point)
b) Yes (0 points)
Points:

6. Do you use a mouth rinse clinically proven to kill bacteria at work?
a) No (1 point)
b) Yes (0 points)
Points:

7. Do you use a sugar-free oral breath strip at work?
a) No (1 point)
b) Yes (0 points)

Points:
1 – 4 Corporate Climber. Congrats! You’re one of the 83 per cent of Canadians who know fresh breath is a must for a good corporate image. But keep in mind, almost three quarters of us reach for our java in the a.m. hours when our breath is often at its worst.

5 – 9 Danger Zone. Got a private office without being promoted recently? Despite popular belief, you can’t smell your own breath. So it may be time to evaluate your breath freshener - many gums and mints just mask bad breath and often contain sugar that feeds the bacteria. Portable oral breath strips are a good option – just make sure they are clinically proven to kill bacteria on contact.

10 – 13 Pink Slip. It’s time to assess why people prefer to conference call you – in the same office. Try setting up an office oral care routine – including brushing, flossing and rinsing with a therapeutic mouthwash. Make sure to drink more water and watch what you’re adding to your steaming cup of Joe.

Source: PocketPaks