@Mike403 Agreed.
@Reynerd I use that brand of mouth wash
The reason that this topic has been brought up many times is that new people join every day. Also most people on the site may not know how to navigate through old threads to find this topic. Each Enthusiast or Pro might not see hygiene in the same way that another one does. I think, having this thread, where people spell out specifically an actual routine before a session that will make it pleasant for both people participating, is still helpful. As a Pro, during my screening, I always bring up hygiene in a friendly way so as not to offend. But even with that, I’ve still had a few sessions, where, although the Cuddler may have had a shower before they went to work in the morning, by the time they get here any benefits from that shower are long gone. I would never generalize and say 99% of people in general know exactly what kind of routine works for good hygiene for cuddling. In fact, I think that’s almost absurd. It’s all relative just like everything else and I believe that what is good for one person is not probably enough for someone else. Lastly, why does this even have to be a conversation?? if you don’t want to read these posts, then don’t read them! There are many topics on here that I’m just not interested in for whatever reason so I don’t read them. I do think that by now we’ve all shown good explanations and I would add that it’s nice if the client can shower right before he/she comes. If they can’t, I have a nice huge, walk-in shower, clean towels that I can offer them. Finally, it is not up to one person’s opinion to decide whether a thread is valuable to others or not.
Unfortunately I am a gagger so tongue scraping is not possible. Thats why I just gurgle mouthwash and it does the trick
@carrieanne - It kind of bothers me myself. I've been depressed where I didn't feel like hopping in the shower, but I also didn't cuddle anyone that day.
Ohhhh its very much a thing! 😬😷 I suuuuper appreciate the clients that take time into themselves making sure they are fresh right beforehand as do I. Verrrry important! 🤗🥰 I've had a few really rough sessions..... was really difficult to enjoy, but I survived. 🙌🙃
Well, in my case I met a pro once and she had really bad breath. She came right after her lunch and I can smell the food so bad. I offered her some mint and finally that saved the day.
So, it's not only men.
Please maintain hygiene.
I'm sad about how many people here have had to deal with bad hygiene cuddler. I'd no idea how relatively rampant it is.
@carrieanne So many good points well said.
@jimboslice5014 Lol I love your honesty. I tried tongue scraping. It's effective. Didn't gag but couldn't handle it. I just brush my tongue, use salt water in place of mouthwash. Sometimes I eat really well 24-36 hours before the cuddle to freshen my breath even more.
I sometimes skip one shower in the winter and my dermatitis thanks me. I also don't hang around people that day.
If I poop before a cuddle post shower, then I make sure to wipe very thoroughly as well as use a wet paper towel.
@pmvines . Unacceptable, you should shower a second time.
Totally a real issue. And although I kinda prefer 'earthy' to gobs of products competing with eachother in my sinuses, many others for sure don't.
So yeah, it's probably good to check in if a known issue for you.
Though sometimes a casual mention isn't enough... A few months ago I was horrified to learn from my partner that my mouth cleansing regimen wasn't up to parr (and sometimes it still isn't so I'm gonna have to look into "tonsil stones" now, so thanks for that. I've tried everything else so maybe it's whatever those are??).
Anyway, I've had a mess of cuddle partners through here, and not a single one mentioned how rank my breath was (at least not to me personally). Maybe for a one-off cuddle it wasn't so bad, or maybe that sort of honesty is what comes from a person who wants to be more up in one's business than a platonic cuddle allows... but again, a non or unknown-issue for one can very much be a deal-breaker for another.
Tl;Dr Even if it was a rhetorical question, or a WTH?! comment, it clearly is of import enough to others to take their time to address it.
And IMO it really didn't seem like a 'troll-ish' thread start to me but was more of a, "How is this an issue?" by someone who honestly didn't get it/hasn't dealt with it/couldn't imagine there being a need to state something they viewed as a basic common practice, etc. (but hopefully has a better understanding of the ranges now).
Yay for community!!
Okay, I'm off to google: "tonsil stones" now... Thanks. I think?? 🫤
@quixotic_life I used to get tonsil stones regularly, I've only had one instance in the last year. When I learned about them it all made sense, but they are such a difficult and embarrassing thing to deal with. I floss and brush at least twice a day, switched to a mouth wash called therabreath (which I gargle with) and started taking a probiotic. I've noticed that when I'm not consistent with these things,I'm like to have a stone develop.
@quixotic_life I had absolutely terrible tonsil stones (result of absolutely terrible tonsils, result of then undiagnosed immunodeficiency that was causing constant infections). I eventually had to have my tonsils taken out in 2010, which sucked as an adult but was one of the best things I've ever done. I went from having strep throat 2+ times a year to not since, and I discovered that sore throats for "normal" people are just uncomfortable....mine had always been excruciating because my tonsils were the size of English walnuts when not inflamed - add active infection and my throat was essentially so closed up it hurt to swallow or breathe.
I highly recommend if you suspect tonsil stones to see an Ear Nose Throat (ENT) specialist to make sure there's not something more involved going on.
For what it's worth, constant bad breath can be from chronic sinusitis (sinus infection) also... Another reason to see ENT. I had sinus surgery at the same time as my tonsilectomy.
@Lisa123 May I ask what probiotic you use? If not, no problem Interesting post.
@Lisa123 & @cuddlefaery ~ Thank you both! I'll likely be seeing an ENT specialist (which hadn't occured to me) to see if they can help me get things sorted. Until then, I'm going to try adopting a more intense routine with a combo of recommended practices mentioned here and that I found in my searches lastnight. All the best!! 🫂
OMG it’s so entertaining to see how my post has just completely gone off the rails LOL
@WestsideMarc Yes but think of all the interesting things we’re learning! I can’t believe anyone thought you were a troll because I’ve seen you on here other times and thanks again for your post. Now I have to Google tonsil stones also because I’ve never heard of them. I rarely get sore throats, and I always have mints for sessions. I gargle brush floss and everything else before a session. I would hope someone would tell me if I was being offensive in any way.
Thank you for saying that, but yes, I usually do regret posting anything on the Internet because you always get a mixed bag of reactions.
It’s completely not a troll subject. It’s a real and honest question based on observation. At least it has something to do with cuddling instead of posts like, what’s your favorite color, or miscellaneous things that don’t contribute to the community.
@WestsideMarc ~ Yeah, if people could just stay on topic (or topic adjacent), that would be great. But maybe not everone got the memo.
Also, I thought it was pretty funny you were presumed to be new here and/or a troll. [Your not either right? 😅... 🙄]
And somewhat related to your OP... Uncensored : To date is still one of my most favorite scenes ever!!
I have a friend who’s a very lovely, intelligent, beautiful woman, but has a problem with BO it’s a problem that is medical. She always stinks no matter how much she showers. I also have a friend that has a sweating problem. He always brings an extra shirt when he’s dancing and hast to change into it he’s always drenched, I would cuddle both of them if I knew their problem ahead of time I would just shower after. I do have a cuddle friend that’s not on the site that hasn’t washed his hair in months because he thinks it’s better for his hair. I still cuddle him I think it’s gross but I don’t allow him to rub his head on me he has a girlfriend that doesn’t care, some people are just hippies. I do agree that it’s nice when someone smells fresh. I take great effort to smell fresh. I exfoliate all the dead. Skin and moisturize with organic moisturizer. No one’s ever said wow you smell wonderful. Which I think is odd because I really try to smell as fresh as I can. I would cuddle an elderly person. If they weren’t completely fresh sometimes it’s hard for them. I haven’t mentioned anything about hygiene on my profile but everyone that I’ve cuddled has been very hygienic except for my regular cuddle partner, but he only has dirty hair. Unfortunately, there’s a real condition out there where people have a hard time staying fresh, even after they showered.
TMI @pmvines, TMI.
@KozyKim
Wow you smell wonderful. 😊
@KozyKim yup, I have known several people with diabetes who have almost-immediate body odor. One was my employee, so it was a difficult, but necessary, conversation. I was enlightened to the situation from her (embarrassed) side, but it still needed a solution, so we did some online researching and talked with her DR. It was a confidence boost for both of us. My ex HAS to use a deodorant/antiperspirant combo that contains aluminum (I think that’s it). It’s his natural body state to have very pungent sweat, within minutes of stepping out of the shower. On a side note, I’m betting you smell great!
@KozyKim I’m with you on all of this. Many people have health problems they cannot control that prevent them from seeking closeness with other humans. While it’s an obvious sign of respect to shower right before an appointment, brush, and use mouthwash—RIGHT before—I can always tell when someone showered that day and then walked around in the heat. Sometimes a little musk is acceptable, but generally it makes me feel like they didn’t care enough to go through the effort I did unless it’s an apparent health issue.
However, I’ve never refused to cuddle someone who had iffy hygiene. I’m a consummate professional, and will deal with it unless it’s intolerable. I cuddled someone who had hygiene so bad I was gagging. I felt awful, because it was obviously the result of a severe mental health issue. I actually requested he shower and it did little to improve the odor. I am pretty sure he had space between skin folds that hadn’t seen the light of day or been washed in quite sometime…to the point it was more than likely rotting/eroding and must have been itchy, if not painful.
I felt bad for him, but getting too close was impossible. Everyone else has been a bit musky—I honestly like that from some men at times…it smells…masculine—or had hot breath, but it hasn’t been unbearable to the point of untenability were I not more empathetic. I feel like handling this with grace is part of the job, but no one should have to be physically uncomfortable to the point they cannot contain their reactions. I still think about that guy and feel so bad for him.
@Rachel_P I concur with you completely. Sometimes a little musky isn’t bad. I would have to say every one of my clients smelled good. I guess I lucked out probably because I am I’m not concerned about it too much.
I have a friend who both of his parents were crack attic’s, his whole life, and he was never nurtured or cared for, and was sexually abused. He has a hard time staying clean because of mental health issues and probably because he just feels dirty. I used to joke around with him because even though he took a shower, he still come out smelling the same way. I told him one time I’m gonna put a blindfold on and I’m going to scrub you myself lol when I got divorced, and he would come over on the weekends, he’s asked me if he could stay in the bed with me and he was a very respectful person and we never cuddled. We just held hands, I could never think about not allowing that to happen (he needed it because of all the things he’s been through) just because he stinks.
Actually, I would like to have more clients like him who needed the help because of a lack of nurturing than someone that smelled really good, but just couldn’t get along with her wife 😝😕