How do you approach your colleagues at work about their bad breath?

Question

Its my boss. she has bad breath and many people at work are bothered by it yet noone knows how to approach them without offending them....

Answer 1

She could have a medical condition that causes bad breath.
Or she may not know. This is really a tough one.

I vote for the anonymous note, and be sure to make it sweet, just wanted you to know......

The dish with the mints is an excellent idea.

Answer 2

Since its your boss I highly suggest discretion and subtle tactfulness.......offer your boss (act as if its like a spur of the moment thing) a "Breath mint" and take one yourself.
Later ask your boss have they been having trouble with their stomach...is it upset? Have they eaten something that didn't agree with them? But weave it into the situation only if they show physical distress.
P.S. Often times a sour stomach or ulcers and sometimes at the beginning of a stomach cancer bad breath is very prevalent and is a sign of gastric distress. Also check next time the boss smiles, is her teeth shiny and white or are there visible dental problems. Tooth decay (cavities) and impacted teeth can cause severe halitosis! But above all my advice is to be very discrete, sweet and weave it in...not just blurt it out like a dork. I believe you will know how to approach the problem with a little kindness and show of concern...let the breath mint be like a casual offering (bring enough for those around you so its not so obvious).

Answer 3

Suttley leave a package of gum or breathe mints in clear view of your bosses desk without it being something the entire office is aware is going on. Make sure that your breath is fresh & clean as well. maybe she'll get the point!

Answer 4

If you have a rapport, tell her. If not, then eat a mint in her presence and mention something about eating onions and then offer her one. If she doesn't take it at first, she'll get the message especially when the whole office follows suit. ☺

Answer 5

Buy your boss a beautiful candy dish and you can all take turns making sure it is always full of mints.

Answer 6

There's not much you can do. There's always the trick of taking out some mints, having one yourself, and then offering her one.

Answer 7

when she is around pop a mint into your mouth with a comment like ..I have coffee breath.. then offer her one.. she will never know.. and will probably take the mint..

Answer 8

Give your boss a kiss on the mouth and faint (or pretend to faint.)

Answer 9

Print a note on the computer and print it.
(So there is no hand writing to be recognized)

Make it very polite and very short.

Leave it on her desk and make sure no one sees you.

Answer 10

http://youtu.be/byV--AkiGFY
Most cases (85–90%), bad breath originates in the mouth, sinus and throat. The intensity of bad breath differs during the day, due to eating certain foods (such as garlic, onions, meat, fish, and cheese), obesity, smoking, and alcohol consumption. Since the mouth is exposed to less oxygen and is inactive during the night, the odor is usually worse upon awakening ("morning breath"). Bad breath may be transient, often disappearing following eating, brushing one's teeth, flossing, or rinsing with mouthwash.
Causes:
1, Tongue, A common location is the tongue. Tongue bacteria produce malodorous compounds and fatty acids, and account for 60 to 70% of all cases of mouth-related bad breath. Methods used against bad breath, such as mints, mouth sprays, mouthwash or gum, only temporarily mask the odors created by the bacteria on the tongue, but cannot cure bad breath because they do not remove the source of the bad breath.
Cleaning the tongue - Many companies promote tongue scrapers as a bad breath cure however the bacteria on the tongue can’t be removed with a scraper or brush as they live between the taste buds. Use a tongue scrapper to reduce the food source for bacteria but don’t expect it to cure bad breath. The method of stopping bad breath from the tongue involves rebalancing the bacteria load. Once tongue bacteria are in balance bad breath will cease. For this complex procedure you’ll need to consult Oraltech Labs program at http://www.oraltech.com.au
2. Mouth, There are over 600 types of bacteria found in the average mouth. Other parts of the mouth may also contribute to the overall odor, but are not as common as the back of the tongue. These locations are, in order of descending prevalence: inter-dental and sub-gingival niches, faulty dental work, food-impaction areas in between the teeth, abscesses, and unclean dentures. To fix you will need a dentist to examine your teeth and repair any faults found. Or use Oraltech Labs Unusual Causes Of Bad Breath.
3. Gum disease, advanced periodontal disease is a common cause. Waste products from the anaerobic bacteria growing below the gum line (sub gingival) have a foul smell and have been clinically demonstrated to produce a very intense bad breath. To fix remove the tartar or hard plaque and friable tissue with a soft bristle tooth brush angled on the gum line. This has been shown to improve mouth odor considerably.
4. Nose, in this occurrence, the air exiting the nostrils has a pungent odor that differs from the oral odor. Nasal odor may be due to sinus infections, foreign bodies & commonly Post Nasal Drip. To fix this you will need to flush your sinuses with salt water. It’s very difficult. Use Oraltech Labs program to properly clear all sinus cavities.
5. Tonsils small bits of calcified matter in tonsillar crypts called tonsilloliths that smell extremely foul when released and can cause bad breath. To fix use warm to hot salt water mix to break the stones down or use a water pic to dislodge them. This topic is covered in depth in the Oraltech Labs Program.
6. Stomach, very uncommon source of bad breath. The esophagus is a closed and collapsed tube, and continuous flow (as opposed to a simple burp) of gas or putrid substances from the stomach indicates a health problem—such as reflux serious enough to be bringing up stomach contents or a fistula between the stomach and the esophagus. To fix use Oraltech Labs program to cure bad breath caused by GERD & Acid Reflux.
Management:
1. Gently clean the tongue surface twice daily; that can be achieved using a tooth brush, tongue cleaner or tongue brush/scraper to wipe off the bacterial biofilm, debris, and mucus. Scraping or otherwise damaging the tongue should be avoided, and scraping of the V-shaped row of taste buds found at the extreme back of the tongue should also be avoided. Brushing a small amount of antibacterial mouth rinse or tongue gel onto the tongue surface will further inhibit bacterial action.
2. Eating a healthy breakfast with rough foods helps clean the very back of the tongue.
3. Chewing gum: Since dry-mouth can increase bacterial build-up and cause or worsen bad breath, chewing sugarless gum can help with the production of saliva, and thereby help to reduce bad breath. Chewing may help particularly when the mouth is dry, or when one cannot perform oral hygiene procedures after meals.
4. Gargling right before bedtime with an effective mouthwash.
5. Maintaining proper oral hygiene, including daily tongue cleaning, brushing, flossing, and periodic visits to dentists and hygienists. Flossing is particularly important in removing rotting food debris and bacterial plaque from between the teeth, especially at the gum line.
If none of the above works for you just use the Oraltech Program by visiting - http://www.oraltechlabs.ph
To Your good health, Dr Devon, M.D, D.D.S
…………………………………………………………100% (7 votes)