How To Break the News When Someone Has Bad Breath

You're on a five hour plane trip sitting next to a complete stranger whose breath is more than you can handle, or you may be at a party and a business associate is attempting to be sociable but the odor from his mouth is anti-social.

How do you tell someone their breath is offensive? How would you want to be told if it was your breath that is stinky?

Face it, telling someone their breath can knock over a horse is not an easy thing to do.  However, telling someone the truth about their mouth odor can be an act of kindness; especially if no one has ever told them they have a problem.

When it comes to telling someone that their mouth odor is too much to handle, the main approach is tact. I strongly suggest you don't blurt out, "Hey, your breath really stinks." A better alternative is to take them aside and acknowledge that you want to discuss something personal with them, but you do not want to offend them. 

Here are are a few other ways of handling this sticky situation: 

Some blogs suggest using email to tell someone about their offensive bad breath.  Websites exist that will send an anonymous message telling someone about their bad breath.  If it were me with the bad breath, I'd rather be told in person and not through an anonymous email.   

Tell a close friend or relative of the person with the bad breath. Why? When someone close to you informs you about your offensive breath odor, it may be easier to listen to. 

Take the indirect approach.  You can get near a person and sincerely wonder, "Wow, something smells like garlic, is it you? Did you have garlic for lunch?"  The other person will get the hint that their breath is not the best.

Suggest they visit a dentist. Your dentist may be the best person to tell you how to cure bad breath if there is an oral health problem. Their issue may simply be poor hygiene which can be remedied.   

According to several websites on ending bad breath, the most common cause of mouth odor is leftover food that can get struck on or in between your teeth after eating.  They may not be brushing or flossing enough or correctly, which leaves food to decay in that person's teeth. 

When food is left on the teeth, bacteria can feed off food particles and cause a bad odor to form. The best remedy for this is to brush your teeth regularly after every meal and floss at least once a day. Also, using a disinfecting mouthwash can help wash away bacteria that could have been missed after brushing. 

Some people may be dealing with gum infections or disease.  Even if they brushed their teeth all day long, it would not make a difference if they have some sort of mouth disease. 

Another major cause of bad breath is smoking.   The only way to get rid of raunchy breath connected with smoking is to quit smoking. Also, alcohol can cause bad breath.

Another action you can take to keep your mouth smelling fresh is to clean your tongue. There are millions of filaments on your tongue that provide a perfect germ hide-out.  Drink plenty of water to keep your mouth clean.  Though it may be annoying to some people, chew gum; especially cinnamon gum that stimulates saliva production, It so happens that aliva is the body's one-two punch for a healthy mouth.

John
Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

Need more health tips for a healthier and more appealing version of your self?  For a health make-over, read my new book, Intelligence For Your Life: Powerful Lessons For Personal Growth.   You can purchase my book at your local bookstore or online at Amazon.com or Barnes and Noble.

 

Comments

[Bad Breath]

I've read that the main cause of bad breath is due to the growth of anaerobic bacteria under the service of the tongue, and that the real way to get rid of bad breath is through oxygen-based mouthwashes and toothpastes.