Yeah, I've tried the baking soda thing too... wasn't awful but honestly made me a bit anxious about swallowing it by accident. I've found sipping water regularly and avoiding coffee helps more than mints or gum ever did.
Honestly, sipping water never did much for me—felt like it just masked things for a minute or two. What really changed the game for me was getting a good tongue scraper. Sounds weird, I know, but trust me... it makes a big difference. I used to be paranoid before dates too, but since I've started using one regularly, I worry way less about breath issues. Might wanna give it a shot if you haven't yet.
Tongue scrapers are honestly underrated. I started using one a couple years back, and it made a noticeable difference for me too. Another thing that helps is chewing sugar-free gum with xylitol—my dentist recommended it. It stimulates saliva production, which naturally fights bad breath. Also, quick tip: flossing beforehand can help a lot, since trapped food particles can be sneaky culprits. Good luck on your date...you got this!
Totally agree about tongue scrapers—they're a game changer. Another thing that's helped me is staying hydrated throughout the day. Sounds basic, but dry mouth can seriously ramp up dragon breath. Also, quick heads-up: watch out for coffee or garlic-heavy meals beforehand... learned that one the hard way once, lol. You've got this though, hope it goes great!
