It would be wise to use words like “off,” “sour,” or “noticeable” rather than “offensive” or “pungent.” Approach the person with a question, not a statement. Instead of telling them that they have a problem, start by asking if they have noticed any change in their breath or taste.
At the end of the day, however, if your partner's breath is truly offensive, and they're not picking up what you're putting down, just tell them gently and in the moment that their breath smells a bit, and would they mind brushing their teeth before kissing you?
It's trickier when someone has a persistent breath odor. If it's a stranger — say, someone you see on your commute every day but have never spoken to — don't mention it. But if it's someone you do know, it's better to speak up, if only to alert him or her to a potential dental or health problem.
Let them know gently.
Some ideas for considerate, compassionate conversation starters include: “I noticed something, and I'm not sure if you're aware, but your breath smells a bit off."
Regardless of how much you love someone, halitosis can ruin or cause a rift in your relationship. Halitosis can be terrible, and only a few people can be comfortable with such a situation, especially if they have to handle it every day.
You need to handle conversations about body odor or bad breath with sensitivity and kindness. In the long run, letting someone know they smell, and helping them overcome their odor, can benefit them. But that doesn't mean it might not be an awkward conversation.
Most of the time, bad breath is the result of one of two things – lack of (or poor) oral hygiene and diet (which includes smoking). But there are certain, unique scents that may be indicative of a greater health concern.
Martha Dawson, D.D.S, “poor brushing and flossing are probably the primary reason, but dry mouth, gum disease, and illness—like a sinus infection or post nasal drip—can also cause some funky breath.” If you've been frustrated that the mints and gum aren't working, you shouldn't be surprised: “Mints and gum will ...
Can you smell breath when kissing? Not really smell it but if your partner has bad breath you will be able to taste it. Eat some breath mints, chew some minty gum, or keep some mouthwash with you if you're worried about your own breath.
This is called "pseudo-halitosis." Halitophobia, or fear of bad breath, is real and may persist despite reassurance from a doctor. People with pseudo-halitosis respond well to reassurance, and may benefit from speaking with a therapist or psychiatrist who has expertise in the field.
One way is to lick your wrist, let it dry for a second, and sniff it - you would know if your breath stinks. Another way is to take a floss or tongue scraper and gently move it towards the back of your mouth or tongue and then smell it. This should also give you a fair assessment whether your breath smells bad.
If you leave the stinky person with vague comments about “hygiene,” they might think you're asking them to brush their teeth to solve their bad breath. To avoid any confusion, be gentle but don't mince words. You could say, for instance, “You seem to have a disagreeable odor these days.”
Bad breath may be caused by health conditions such as diabetes, peptic ulcer, liver failure, kidney failure, and intestinal blockage. Some foods: Even after brushing your teeth, the flavor of some foods, such as garlic and onions, may remain on your breath. Garlic breath, for instance, can last for a day or longer.
Because men tend to have more hair on their bodies, including the armpits. There may be more bacteria in these hair follicles. When the body sweats, the bacteria that is present in those areas will feed off the sweat released from the body causing it to smell worse than other areas of the body.
Though more than half the cases of bad breath are caused by bacteria buildup, halitosis can also be a side effect of other, more serious problems. In these cases, bad breath may be a red flag for a disease or chronic illness.
Most People Who Have Bad Breath Don't Know It
According to this theory, our nose may filter out any bad smells coming from the mouth because we have grown accustomed to our own odors. That's because our oral cavities are connected to our noses through an opening in the back of our mouths.
Of the survey results, 85 per cent said they would be put off from dating someone if that person had bad breath—outranking poor manners, being late and making bad jokes. Furthermore, 80 per cent said they wouldn't go on a second date with someone if that person had bad breath on the first date.
Bad breath is more than just an unpleasant stench—it can make people think less of you, make you seem unattractive, and make people not want to spend time talking to you.
It's possible to confront a friend or partner about their problem without being offensive. He or she may be slightly embarrassed at first, but he or she will be very thankful in the long run. Bad breath may be an embarrassing problem, but there's no reason not to break the news gently and respectfully.
Halitosis (bad breath) is mostly caused by sulphur-producing bacteria that normally live on the surface of the tongue and in the throat. Sometimes, these bacteria start to break down proteins at a very high rate and odorous volatile sulphur compounds (VSC) are released from the back of the tongue and throat.
Ask Someone You Trust
Just make sure it's an appropriate person to ask, like a partner or family member. You can try asking someone you're close with to take a peek at the inside of your mouth to see if they notice a white coating on the back of your tongue, a common sign of bacteria that causes bad breath.