Are you getting all ready to pucker up?

Kissing is therapeutic - it produces those feel-good endorphin thingys - you can nearly always kiss a child better, and it is nice. So, in the words of the song "If it feels good - do it".

OK, I hear you say: "First you need someone to kiss".

It doesn't have to be a member of the opposite sex - it can be anyone you are close to - even your pet at a stretch. I'll bet you have all cuddled the cat in your time.

However, if you don't want your target to back away, or if your nearest and dearest has a touch of halitosis, what do you do?

What if you have sore, cracked lips after biting them to shreds over the England - Brazil match? Start at the worst thing - halitosis...Where there is a toothbrush there is a way.

A proper clean

First, pay attention to cleaning your teeth properly.

There is a right way and a wrong way. The whole purpose is to remove the remains of the food you have eaten, not to make your mouth taste nice.

What toothpaste you use, is your choice and will make no difference at all to the finish of the job.

Get your self a decent toothbrush. If yours has been swanning around the bathroom for more than a couple of months then change it.

It will be full of bugs from your last cold, clogged up with old toothpaste and the filaments will be all over the place.

Soft bristles are what the dentist recommends. If you can afford an electric one so much the better.

Take your time. It should take you at least 2 minutes to do a whole mouth properly. If you have a full complement of 32 teeth (as an adult) 20 for a small child you can't whiz through- each tooth needs individual attention.

Start at the top outside surface, then move to the bottom. Next to the top teeth on the inside surface and, likewise at the bottom. Finish with the chewing surface and then brush your tongue When you are satisfied that you have thoroughly, gently cleansed every tooth with precision have a good rinse with water. There is no point in dislodging all that food debris and then leaving it to hang around. Swish away with plain water and have a good spit.

If you are a perfectionist now is the time for mouthwash, but if you have done the job well you should not need it, unless of course you had a particularly pungent curry or garlic baguette the night before.

And pungent food can make anyone back off, so be abstemious for a couple of days and see if it makes a difference. Drink lots of water.

Now we come to lips. According to all the cosmetic gurus lips should be soft, luscious and come in a huge variety of shades. True, lipstick does give a girl that certain yummy feeling, but there is no point in lipstick if you have cracked lips. Give them a little TLC first.

Many make-up outlets have lip exfoliators to get rid of those scaly bits, and used kindly they do give a smooth surface.

For very dry lips Vaseline does work a treat.

Trial and error

There are other proprietary mixes available, and each cosmetic manufacturer will have one of their own to recommend. It is a matter of trial and error.

Choose what you like and can afford. You will be amazed at the range of both prices and products.

Next ladies, when you have got your nice, smooth, luscious lips ready, find the lippy to enhance the job. A lip pencil gives a smooth outline, but you may need a little practice and lip brushes are the proper way to fill in, however that can be time consuming when you are in a rush first thing. Blot away the excess so the person you are kissing doesn't have too much explaining to do! Make sure the colour inspires you to feel good and the person you are intending to kiss isn't intimidated by too strong a shade.

A quick slick of lip-gloss is sexy and tastes great.

So get busy - you still have a couple of days to go.