How do you tell a co-worker she has bad breath?

Question

I have a co-worker and she always talks to me. Her bad breath is killing me. I let it slide for a couple of weeks, but it’s a constant thing. How do I let her know without hurting her feelings?

Answer 1

During my last year of high school (many long years ago) my classmates and I endured the effects of another student's offensive body odor. But because none of us had the maturity at the time to tell him directly, "our" problem never quite got solved. As the weather began to get warmer, the situation became virtually unbearable. One didn't have to get close to him, one only had to be in the same room. And so finally, another male student decided to "tell" him by placing a bar of soap on his desk and then walking away.

To make a long story short, the fellow *didn't* get the message. He sincerely believed the dude was challenging him to a fight and the bar of soap was some sort of code message.

Anyway, all this to say that being evasive with others is never quite as effective as getting right to the point. As 'painful' as it is sometimes, honesty has a way of getting you what you want. In your case, one of two things will happen. Either she will be grateful to you for the heads-up and do something about the problem or she will resent the intrusiveness and then stay away from you permanently. Either way, problem solved.

So just flat out tell her. Being evasive will be more hurtful to her feelings in the long run than privately sharing your discomfort with her. And if you want to spare her the embarassment make sure you tell her in private, apologize for your own need to tell her, and then offer her a helpful solution if you have one. Just remember that sometimes bad breath is due to stomache disorders rather than poor dental hygiene so her problem may not be easily corrected. In short, approach her like a friend that has only the best of intentions.

Bottom line, if you simply can't do the honesty thing, then offer the mint, cross your fingers and pray for a small miracle. Good luck.

Answer 2

Tactfully and with love, if at all. I had bad breath for months because I had a bad tooth (the filling fell out, it was rotten to the core and ached constantly) and I had no dental coverage at the time. (Extracting a tooth costs well over $100. Once I had saved that up, I had to wait WEEKS for an appointment. Here in rural America, dentists are few...) I brushed several times a day, sucked breath mints constantly -- all to no avail. And I was VERY aware of the problem. Yes, I eventually got the tooth pulled. But unless you are volunteering to pay her dental costs if this should be turn out to be case, I would just grin and bear it.

Answer 3

Offer her gum candy or mints, let her know that you like to have fresh breath because you dont want to offend anyone! Hopefully she will take a hint! If not when nobody is around leave breath strips on her desk!

Answer 4

Eat an onion or something obnoxious then get in her face. Don't linger too long because it's rude, but instead pull out some gum or breath spray and mention that you had onions and need something to cover it up. Then offer her some breath spray or gum.

If she's a smoker, then pull no punches because it's self-induced. Tell her that her breath smells like smoke and **** and that she needs to brush and floss hourly if necessary.

Answer 5

Buy her an assortment of gum and tick tacks and some mentos and breath mints put them in a basket and leave it on her desk before she gets in to work with a note "sorry but your breath is kicking cant take it anymore please use these thanks anonymous" OH ya and through in a tooth brush and some mouth wash if she don't get the hint then find a new job!! LOL

Answer 6

Say, "this gum really helps my teeth and offer her some trident or whichever. If u really got balls, be very nice, keep it low key and say "im not trying to come off as a jerk but i dont want other people to notice and begin talking about u. It would be really nice if u could check on your dental hygene. I have gum if u ever want any :), liquid icebreakers are really wild and kewl! cinamon or mint

Answer 7

Open up a pack of breath mints and offer her one while you put one in your own mouth. Other than that there really is no tactful way to to tell someone that their breath is offensive.

Answer 8

I had that problem once. I just ignored him. Tried to dodge him as much as possible. During Christmas, give her a present that is made up of stuff for breath. Maybe she will catch a clue. If not, just be honest with her.

Answer 9

buy her a tooth brush and mouth wash and rap it up and give it to her she should get the hint if she doesnt tell her privatley that her breath is nasty and she needs to go to the dentist or even make her a appt at the dentist and tell her it is work related

Answer 10

offer her chewing gum, and then some mouth freshners and say you just picked up a book on halistosis and probably ask her to join in the reading.