Sometimes you just have to take charge.

(Editors Note: We've had some recent mail about bad kissers, so we decided to re-run Gretchen's piece from last year. If we had our way, we would re-title it MOP UP!)

I have gotten to the age where I can't tolerate a sloppy kiss anymore. Simply put, it's disgusting. Excessive frenching is the most common mistake of bad kissing.  There is nothing worse than a full on, incorrectly executed, tongue assault. Gross me out. On the other hand, there is nothing in the world like a great kiss. If done right, you can do it for hours.

So here's the loaded question...If you're with a bad kisser what do you do?

The lesson here, for any would-be kissing instructor, is that you have to teach without suggesting something is wrong. At first, you have to french back. If you make bad kissers feel self-conscious, they'll never improve. So you have to indulge them, switching the direction of the tongue-swirl periodically to keep the semblance of spontaneity.

Then, right before the monotony becomes a turn-off, slow it down and go for the bottom lip. Now you can get creative. A simple suction; the lip switch from bottom to top or vice versa; the sly addition of the tongue; escalation to a full-on frencher, then a teasing retreat; and the playful nibble.

I hate to say it, but this leading by example thing really works in this instance. Any kissing partner with a modicum of creativity will discover the possibilities and try the combination's.

With a little practice, you can awaken your bad kisser's creativity.