How do you tell someone their breath smells like the rotting gates of hell?

Question

or what I would think the rotting gates of hell would be. I have hinted, and he has gum and that helps, but he seems to have ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA WHATSOEVER his breath reeks. I sent him a "breath o gram" which is an anonymous email telling him he has bad breath, and that seemed to work, but its still there. Sometimes it smells like mint covered rotting death, other times full blast hounds of hell, but always smells like something rotten. Its starting to make me resent him a lot. I don't want to embarrass him, but I feel like Im a victim of his bad breath. One time I walked into his vehicle and the whole inside reeked of his odor. I don't why his ex g/f never mentioned it. Please help and thanks.

I am his friend, not his G/F

Someone at work once told me (and I feel this is true) "If he has bad oral hygiene, you kinda wonder what else he isn't taking care of" lol

Answer 1

Take your friend aside, privately, and explain to him that while you understand that he tries his hardest to disguise his breath...he isn't succeeding.

Being polite, yet firm...is the best way to go. If you are truly his friend, you should tell him. Explain to him that, because you ARE his friend, you are willing to take this step and risk insulting him..in order to better him.

I had a roommate the same way...and I finally just told him.."You have a problem with your breath. I am not trying to insult you, I'm just letting you know that it is offensive and I hope you can figure out what is causing it. Talk with your dentist or doctor and see if you can't get further help with it."

He took the advice, went to the doctor, went to the dentist and got presciption anti-biotics for a condition in his throat as well as had his teeth professionally cleaned. It did the trick and later he thanked me.

Good luck with this....I realize its a touchy subject with many.

Answer 2

Personally, I would just be honest with him. Don't tell him his breath smell like hell but let him know that the odor is really pretty bad. Maybe he has a condition that causes it that he needs to get checked out. Maybe if he realizes that other people find his breath offensive and they tell him to his face, he will really try and do something about it.

Answer 3

There are a number of possible causes of halitosis. Below I have listed some possible causes of a bad breath condition and have separated them into medical and dental causes.

Medical

Sinus infections & abnormal sinus anatomies, post nasal drainage (drips)
Tonsilar infections or tonsiloliths
Lung diseases
Kidney diseases
Liver diseases
Blood disorders
Diabetes
Gallbladder dysfunction
Menstruation
Carcinomas
Certain foods
Dental

Extensive dental decay
Periodontal (gum) disease
Oral infections or abscesses
Oral cancers
Xerostomia (dry mouth condition). Many medications can contribute to a condition of xerostomia.
Oral conditions resulting from post-nasal drips or discharges
Allergy conditions
A proliferation of specific types of gram (-) anaerobic bacteria.

Answer 4

I work with a guy like that and I have to travel an hour each way to and from work.Like you say mints and gum only make it less intense,also temporary.Telling him straight to his face may have neg. consequences but I'm at wits end.Good Luck to you.

Answer 5

I think you have the problem swetie, not visa versa.
Your highlighted Q, ....... the answer to that is you can't unless you know it.

The only other advise I can give you in this smelly situation is ---Just Tell Him To Fix Up The Breath because you find it offensive!

Answer 6

maybe he should go to the dentist,and you are his g/f orjust a friend? You should just come out and say it. He probably is used to the smell himself and doesn't notice. Does he have poor dental hygiene practices?

Answer 7

Tell them just like you worded your question. They will probably believe you.