Telling someone that they have bad breath can be an awkward situation. You want to be honest so the person can address the issue, but you also want to be kind and sensitive. With the right approach, you can inform someone of their breath odor politely and respectfully.
Why Bad Breath Happens
Before jumping into how to tell someone about their breath, it helps to understand what causes bad breath in the first place. Here are some common culprits:
- Food – Garlic, onions, spices, and certain other foods can cause lingering odors.
- Poor oral hygiene – Not brushing and flossing regularly allows bacteria to build up, creating bad breath.
- Dry mouth – Saliva helps cleanse the mouth, so a lack of saliva can cause odors.
- Smoking – Cigarette smoke leads to stale odors.
- Medical conditions – Diseases like gum disease and diabetes can cause bad breath.
- Medications – Some drugs lead to dry mouth or other effects that cause odors.
Knowing what causes bad breath can help you understand where the person is coming from if you need to tell them about their breath. It can also guide your recommendations for how they can improve the situation.
Consider Your Relationship
Your relationship with the person should dictate how you approach telling them about their breath. For example:
- With close friends, you may be able to be very direct and casual about it.
- With work colleagues, you need to maintain professionalism.
- With a significant other, you want to balance honesty with sensitivity.
- With a superior at work, it takes extra care and tact.
Think about your connection to this person and let that guide how frank versus gentle you choose to be when raising the issue. The closer you are, the more casually you can bring it up.
Look for Opportunities to Tell Them
Timing is important when informing someone about bad breath. Look for openings where it will seem natural to bring up the topic. Some good opportunities include:
- When they ask if you notice anything different about them.
- After they eat pungent foods like garlic or onion.
- When they complain about having a dry mouth.
- After they smoke a cigarette.
- When they’re about to meet someone for the first time, like going on a date or a job interview.
Slipping it into conversation at a relevant moment can take away some of the awkwardness and make it feel like you’re just being helpful by raising the issue.
Frame It Positively
Using positive language puts a constructive spin on the conversation. Here are some tips for an uplifting approach:
- Say you’re telling them because you care about them and want to help.
- Acknowledge it’s an awkward topic to discuss, but you thought they’d want to know.
- Emphasize you’re coming from a place of support and are on their side.
- Reassure them it’s a common issue many people deal with.
- Compliment their hygiene otherwise to cushion the blow.
Framing it as caring about them, not criticizing them, sets the right tone for a sensitive discussion. Having good intentions makes it easier for them to hear.
Suggest Solutions
To avoid leaving the person feeling awkward or upset, offer concrete solutions for freshening breath. Recommendations may include:
- Brushing teeth twice a day and flossing daily.
- Using mouthwash to kill germs.
- Scrapping the tongue to remove bacteria.
- Chewing gum or sucking on mints to stimulate saliva.
- Drinking more water to avoid dry mouth.
- Avoiding foods like garlic and coffee that cause odor.
- Seeing a dentist to treat potential causes.
Providing action steps makes your input constructive, not just critical. It shows you’re interested in helping the person improve.
Watch Your Delivery
How you say it matters just as much as what you say. Keep these delivery tips in mind:
- Have the conversation privately to avoid embarrassing them.
- Speak gently and don’t talk down to them.
- Maintain eye contact to show sincerity.
- Avoid sounding accusatory or disgusted.
- If you sense discomfort, express empathy and reassurance.
- Make sure your own breath is fresh so you avoid hypocrisy.
Minding your tone and body language ensures the discussion comes across as caring and not condescending. This makes the person more receptive.
Time It Carefully
In addition to looking for relevant opportunities, aim for optimal timing. For instance:
- Don’t tell someone right before an important event when it could make them self-conscious.
- Pick a relaxed time when you both have privacy and no rush.
- Allow time for the person to freshen up before interacting with others.
- If drinking alcohol is involved, wait until you both have clear heads.
Giving thought to scheduling reduces the chance you’ll make the conversation more stressful than necessary.
Follow Up Sensitively
Checking in with the person after your talk shows you care and it was coming from the right place. Be subtle, such as:
- “How did those mints work out?”
- “Have you noticed a difference since using mouthwash more?”
- “I appreciate you being so understanding when we talked last week.”
Brief, casual follow-up reminds them of your support. But take care not to harp on the issue and embarrass them further.
Know When to Involve Someone Else
If gentle reminders and tips don’t improve the person’s breath after a few weeks, it may be time to get someone else involved. Recommend they see a dentist or doctor to identify any underlying cause. While still awkward, it’s better they hear it from a professional than solely you.
For severe bad breath that doesn’t resolve with dental care, ask if they’d be open to seeing their physician. Persistent bad breath can indicate health problems like respiratory or sinus infections, diabetes, liver or kidney disease. Addressing an undiagnosed condition takes precedence over freshening breath.
Conclusion
Telling someone their breath is unpleasant needs diplomacy and care. Mind the relationship, timing, delivery and follow up. Frame it as wanting to help them, not hurt them. Recommend solutions like oral hygiene steps and seeing a dentist or doctor. With the right approach, you can handle this sensitive issue in a way that maintains positive relations.
| Situation | Guidance |
|---|---|
| Close friend | Be frank but caring in private |
| Work colleague | Polite, professional, focus on solutions |
| Significant other | Lovingly honest, offer to help |
| Superior at work | Extreme tact, involve HR if needed |
Key Points
- Understand causes like poor hygiene, medical conditions
- Consider your relationship and be more gentle with closer ties
- Time it when natural but not right before important events
- Frame positively as caring about them, provide solutions
- Watch tone and body language, follow up sensitively
- Involve professional help if doesn’t improve