Coworker with bad breath, how do you tell them?

Question

I've got a co-worker that I sometimes work closely with, he always feel the need to whisper and his breath smells like he brushes with shi*! I find myself holding my breath when he talks to me. The killing part is when he asks me to show him how to do something on his computer, maybe its me, as we are looking at the computer screen and he's talking, his breath seems to bounce off the screen and slap me right across the nose. And I look funny trying to hold in my breath for a long period of time and almost scared to breath in through my nose.
I am not a rude person but I always come to his desk with some kind of breathmint, gum, tick tac or something and offer one but he ALWAYS refuses. What is a sistah to do?

Answer 1

Leave a bottle of scope on their desk.

Answer 2

He probably doesn't know that he has bad breath being we aren't supposed to be able to smell our own breath. He may even have a dental problem. Slip him some dental info. It is really hard to tell someone that they have bad breath, but knowing this would make him feel better in the future. I would just tell him, or ask him when he last went to the dentist. I guess it is better to be open with him especially if you see him as a friend. Gum, and breath mints and stuff, although they are really strong these days only cover up bad breath and do not last. Maybe he doesn't know that the main source of bad breath is the tongue. Do some studies on bad breath. There are some very interesting facts to learn. Once you learn all the facts, share it with him. You could e-mail it to him and tell him you didn't know these things and found it interesting. Did you know that meat in your mouths begins to decay to the point of rotting within only 30 minutes and if a person smoke cigarettes it is faster by 60 percent. Do some research on the subject, you will find many useful things that are interesting enough to share. Infections in the mouth can even spread throughout the entire body and make a person really sick. You are more of a friend if you help him overcome this that to ignore it and hold your breath.

Answer 3

Interesting question actually... personally I think most people would like to be informed (in a nice way) about that sort of thing (food between teeth; label showing etc.) especially from a friend/friendly colleague, but I guess my approach would be something like: next time your colleague engages you in conversation, perhaps you could somehow introduce into the chat that you have a friend (fictitious) who has bad breath and you really don't know if you should tell them, and if you did, how you would do it. Perhaps you could ask him how he would handle the situation and whether or not he would like to be told those sorts of (potentially embarassing) things by a friendly colleague/friend.

Hopefully that might help get the message across. If not, it will (hopefully) give you some idea about how he might react.

The last thought I have is... try and breath through your mouth for a while if worse comes to worse. That should relieve the receptors in your nose for a bit.

Answer 4

I used to have a colleague like this as well, except he didn't refuse the tic tac/life saver when I offered it. I like the scope idea a lot - it sends the message while remaining anonymous. You could also go to HR and tell them that this is an issue for you and have them deal with it. They may be able to say at that person's review that his hygiene has been brought up as a concern and that he needs to be more considerate of others. But this is risky since it may make you look shallow. Hence, I would first recommend leaving on his desk anonymously a bottle of scope along with a jar full of tic tacs, gum, peppermints, etc. It's time he got the message even if you have to "slap him across the face" with it (anonymously)!

Answer 5

As tick tac advertisements used to assert supply a tic tac. this is the least confusing maximum well mannered thank you to help freshen a individual's breath. no one frequently turns down a tic tac. Get the sunshine eco-friendly ones and supply some or supply a p.c.. (say u have such various or something) to that individual. additionally commence a communique approximately what share cases they brush their enamel an afternoon. Say which you went in for a cleansing those days and the dental hygienist advised you which you may desire to be brushing 2 cases an afternoon for 2 minutes each and each time (you would be taken aback at how a lot of human beings in basic terms brush as quickly as an afternoon OR no longer even daily!). this could help sell the guy to take extra suited care of their mouth.

Answer 6

Offer him the breath mint again and when he refuses, wince a little bit and say "No honey. I'm sorry but you REALLY need to pop a mint. Your breath is kickin' and other people have been talking about it too and I want to save you some embarrasment."

He may get offended, but its better than losing lunch at the smell of his stank breath!

Some people don't get hints!

Answer 7

Come armed with gum and freely distribute it to anyone who comes near you. Beyond that, unless you have a friendly relationship with your co-worker, I'm not sure how you could address it with him beyond bringing it to the attention of the HR dept (as they are the individuals who are supposed to address hygiene issues with people).

Okay...now that I read the rest of it...he's always refusing gum, mints, etc? Hmm...okay, scratch plan a and go straight to HR. I've seen often that this could be a sign of a health problem or whatever for the guy.

Answer 8

LOL

I know exactly of what you speak!!! LOL

Worked with a really lovely woman, we were friends as well, but her breath smelled as though there were decaying rats living in her mouth.

LOL

There is no polite way of handling this. LOL

You have done your best offering mints, etc. LOL

What I ended up doing is sucking on a handful of mints before I had to interact with her so that all I could smell was me. I looked like a chipmunk with the Halls candy parked in my cheeks when I talked. But it worked.

LOL

Good luck!

Answer 9

This may work, he may just feel weird accepting things from you like that, so it may work better if you left a bowl of mints or something liek that always sitting in a public place so he's more likely to take one. Or just tell him because in the long run it will b better for everyone

Answer 10

You know John,,I hate to say this but your breath smells like a dead skunk. I mean do you ever use mouth wash or brush???? I can tell you now that you are no longer allowed to come within 30 ft of my space or I will call the ETM'S to have you taken away. Or I will call in the hazmat team to decon you. Just stay away please. I hate to hurt your feelings but, your breath reminds me of a dead bear carcuss that has been lying in the hot sun for 2 weeks. Hit it now, or I will be forced to have you locked away. And then you throw up on him....

Answer 11

Offer a stick of gum or breath mint as you pop one in your mouth. Then go on to mention lunch was real flavorful and it left a taste in your mouth. He may get the hint.