Tell them that you care and that you're concerned about their health. Make sure they know you want to spend as much time with them as you can (poor oral health can lead to a shorter life). Never bring up this kind of issue in an accusatory or angry way. Don't use it as “evidence” against them or as part of an argument.
You can say, “You have been complaining about tooth pain for weeks now, and I can see that one of your teeth is turning black. It's time for you to get it checked out by a dentist.” You might even say, “Your bad breath is starting to become a problem. It's hard me to want to kiss you when it is so strong.
If you're sharing a smooch with a partner who has gum disease, they are transferring bacteria that can have a pretty bad effect on your own oral health. Some bacteria can also introduce acids into the mouth that contribute to building cavities, as well as bad breath.
If you have exchanged saliva with someone with poor oral hygiene: Don't worry — your immune system, if healthy and well, can handle this infection. Just because you got someone else's bugs from kissing or sharing a drink doesn't mean you will get gum disease. You can still protect yourself.
Call in the pros!
You may just have to drag your partner to a dentist, but it might provide him with the scientific and objective explanation of how his lack of care is deleterious to his health. And a professional cleaning and exam might be the best way to kick-start a new at-home oral hygiene regime.
"Kissing someone with poor dental hygiene and more 'bad' bacteria can put their partners at more risk for gum disease and cavities, especially if the partner also has poor dental hygiene," he explains.
If you take great care of your oral health and brush and floss regularly, you may not have bad bacteria in your mouth, or at least not much of it. However, when you kiss someone who does have those bad bacteria, they can easily be transferred to your mouth.
Failure to remove food debris and bacterial plaque from the teeth and other oral structures leads to gingivitis, tooth decay (caries), and eventually periodontal disease and tooth loss.
Bad breath can't be passed on to another person via kissing.
A study has revealed the three most common 'deal-breakers' for both long- and short-term relationships, including poor hygiene and untrustworthiness.
PROFESSIONAL MISCONDUCT RELATING TO SEXUAL ABUSE
First and foremost, it is against the law for ANY health care professional, including dental hygienists, to treat clients with whom they are having a sexual relationship.
Of the survey results, 85 per cent said they would be put off from dating someone if that person had bad breath—outranking poor manners, being late and making bad jokes. Furthermore, 80 per cent said they wouldn't go on a second date with someone if that person had bad breath on the first date.
Just tell them! More likely, however, they're going to be sensitive about their breath discretions and it's best to bring up the topic carefully. "In general, it's best not to come right out and say 'Your breath stinks!' and risk injured feelings or ego," says Dr.
Bad Breath and Relationships. Bad breath and relationships are similar to oil and water: they don't mix. Halitosis can put a severe strain on all types of relationships, be it social, personal or intimate. And bad breath can be a key factor when beginning a new relationship or keeping one going.
Poor oral habits include a wide spectrum of habits including, thumb sucking, finger sucking, blanket sucking, tongue sucking, soother/pacifier use, lip sucking, lip licking, mouth breathing, and nail biting, among others.
Teeth that ache, gums that bleed, and breath that smells bad are all indicators of poor oral health. Bacteria from the mouth can easily get into the bloodstream and cause infection and inflammation wherever it spreads.
Can gum disease spread through kissing? Periodontal disease isn't contagious through casual contact. Sharing saliva and bacteria, such as kissing, with someone who has gum disease can increase the likelihood of transmitting it to their partner.
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!
Even though kissing can also cause the exchange of saliva, according to experts sharing of toothbrushes can be more unsafe. This is because gums may bleed during the tooth brushing process which can stain the brush with blood, thereby leaving the brush with a host of various infections.
Similarly to flossing, your dental team will also be able to tell if you don't brush your teeth often enough or even if you brush too hard. Those who don't brush the recommended two times a day will often have larger areas of tartar buildup and puffy, red gums.
It's an awkward and tricky social situation, to be sure. Of course we want to be told if we have food in our teeth, but…it's embarrassing. And it's equally embarrassing to be the one to tell. Between friends and family, it's usually no big deal.
Brushing one's teeth is an important responsibility and is not something to be taken lightly.