If the person's bad breath isn't chronic and isn't too offensive, consider letting them off the hook and keeping quiet about it since it's unlikely to happen again. If you know the person well, just telling them they have bad breath directly can be best.
Some people can get defensive if they are told their breath smells bad, so be as gentle as possible when bringing up the subject. Make it as clear as possible that you are coming from a place of love, not anger, and that you want it to be resolved because of how much you care about them and your relationship.
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.
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."
Yes, naturally you can “smell someone's breath when kissing.” Bad breath can spoil the pleasure of kissing.
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.
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. As such, finding solutions is necessary.
If you want to be direct, you can do so in a few different ways. You could simply tell them directly to their face, which is okay if there are no other bystanders or friends around to judge and make jokes. Another way to tell them directly would be to send a simple text message.
If your partner isn't as diligent as he or she should be with brushing and flossing before bed and in the morning, the mouth can become a fertile growing field for bacteria. Additional causes of halitosis include: Smoking and chewing tobacco. Medications that dry out the mouth.
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.
Not just an odor problem
Bad breath has much broader implications and tells potential romantic partners that you don't take care of yourself. It also says that health might not be a huge priority given that bad breath can be indicative of ailments like diabetes and kidney failure, according to Everyday Health.
share a jokey rapport, telling them in a lighthearted or playful way (for example. “Oh, your breath sure is kickin' today!”) might be appropriate. But if you're not sure how your partner is going to take it, try to avoid making a wisecrack. “Avoid name-calling or negative humor,” Brittle said.
Bad breath is the biggest turn-off when it comes to finding potential partners, according to new research.
Being honest with your girlfriend will give her the opportunity to correct the problem—and help you avoid a break up. Just like any other difficult conversation, your success depends on your delivery. If you are respectful, easy going, and act like it's a very minor setback, this situation can be easily corrected.
Certain psychological states related to stress or anxiety can cause genuine halitosis.
Breath that smells sulfuric, resembling the smell of rotten eggs, may indicate a problem with the digestive tracts. When healthy gut microbes break down sulfur, this releases sulfur-smelling gas.
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.
Cavities and gum disease: Cavities in your teeth can provide a good hiding place for odor-causing bacteria. Because the bacteria are in hard-to-reach spots, removing them when brushing your teeth is challenging. These odor-causing bacteria can also hide in deep gum pockets due to gum disease.
Checking if you have bad breath
A simple test to find out whether you have bad breath is to lick the inside of your wrist with the back of your tongue. You should wait a few seconds until the saliva dries. If your wrist smells unpleasant, it's likely your breath does, too.
Ask to speak in private. Be direct (“I'm not sure if you're aware of this but you have a strong odor about you.”) Reserve judgment ( “I don't know if it's from your clothing or if it's a personal hygiene issue.”) Open the conversation (“Are you aware of this issue?
Almost everyone experiences bad breath once in a while. But for some people, bad breath is a daily problem, and they struggle to find a solution. Approximately 30% of the population complains of some sort of bad breath.
Bad breath and other body odors are among the biggest sexual turnoffs, so much so that they can ruin relationships, according to results of the new Elle/MSNBC.com Sex and Beauty Survey. But before you send your partner packing, keep in mind that B.O. isn't necessarily one's fault — and it can almost always be remedied.
Is Bad Breath Contagious? You can't catch halitosis from another person but you can contract the bad bacteria that cause it from someone else. The bad bacteria can be passed by kissing, sharing utensils, sharing toothbrushes, and can even be transmitted to and from your pets!