To NOT particularly want to be told I have bad breath?

[welliesinthespring]

I just had a brief conversation with a lady in a shop as we both leaned over to get something and she sniffed and then said (loudly!) 'ooh you've been eating chilli, or garlic haven't you?'

I was and said 'no, I haven't!' (which I haven't!)

Obviously, that's just another way of telling me I stink and it's made me really paranoid and cross. I brush thoroughly twice a day and floss. Also, I teach in a secondary school and am fairly certain if there was a particularly offensive smell a child would have blurted something out!

But AIBU to think that this is just incredibly ignorant and rude? I was really embarrassed and since when is it acceptable to comment randomly on smells secreting from others??

[TestingTestingWonTooFree]

I wouldn't want to have bad breath, but if I did, I'd want to know about it.

[welliesinthespring]

I really don't think I do, Testing - after 10 years teaching I am positive a child would have said something by now! :) I've no idea what she could smell as I've been nowhere near anything spicy, garlicky or remotely offensive for ages - I really can't think of the last time I ate anything spicy!

In any case, I can't personally think of anything more mortifying than it being commented on publicly in such a manner - if I did, I wouldn't want a stranger to tell me and I certainly would never tell a stranger they smelled bad. It's just upset me, and made me feel cross.

[ThePinkOcelot]

Pretty rude of her. Do you have a close friend or family you could ask, just for your peace of mind?

[welliesinthespring]

No family but I'll check with my friends later just to ensure I'm not smelly :)

[Jacana]

Years ago we were taught to breathe heavily on a glass or mirror and sniff.. Try that?

[LastUnicorn]

I also work in a school, if you were smelly, you would be told.
Maybe you were just having an off day or the woman smelt something else and assumed it was you? Either way it's pretty rude of her.

[MrsTedCrilly]

Lick the back of your hand and then exhale onto the damp bit, then sniff and see if you pass out! That was pretty rude, I wouldn't want a stranger in public to say that.. A friend in private though I would. I want to be told so I can deal with it! I had a teacher with permanent halitosis and it changed how everyone saw her.. No-one wanted to go near her even though she was a lovely person.

[carabos]

You may not have specifically been eating those items, but you'd be surprised at the number of processed foods that are loaded with garlic, including many premium crisp brands. If you've eaten "naice" crisps chances are your breath will smell.

Having said that, it's extremely rude of a stranger to mention it. Of course it's also entirely possible that it was her own breath she could smell, especially if you were at close quarters .

[suzannecanthecan]

?I suspect that garlic can be detected by other people no matter how scrupulous one is with oral hygiene? ?

[CoolAs10Fonzies]

exdp once told me in an argument that I had terrible breath, the way he said it was truly awful and I've never quite gotten over it.

so much so that I brush my teeth about 10 times a day ans very rarely kiss dp

I am sad about it but don't feel brave enough to discuss my anxiety with dp.

what that woman said to you was rude imo, sometimes people just have no tact

[DarylDixonsDarlin]

Standard response from me would have been "maybe its your own breath blowing back in yer face" but only cos that's what DH and I say to each other, if one of us mention the others' breath smells none too fresh! the words would have been out before I could stop them. Love to see what she'd have made of that!

[DarylDixonsDarlin]

But when its something you've eaten, the smell doesn't really come from the mouth does it think of the day after a heavy drinking session, the smell just sort of comes from deep inside and comes out via your mouth, but not necessarily smelly inside your actual mouth?

[TedAndLola]

Garlic keeps on being secreted for about a day after you eat it, no matter how many times you brush.

There are three men at work who both have REALLY bad breath. I have to breathe through my mouth when I talk to them because it makes me feel ill. I always wonder how their wives put up with it without saying anything?

[suzannecanthecan]

garlic seems to come out of your skin (?) some odours are possibly excreted via the lungs (?)

[youareallbonkers]

Lick the inside of your wrist and smell it, that will tell you what your breath smells like

[TheresACatInMeKitchen]

Did you eat anything with hidden garlic in it, a lot of ready meals contain garlic even when you assume there wouldn't be any in it but would be listed in the ingredients on the packet.

Even things like potato wedges, things that are southern fried or barbeque flavoured, even some salad dressings have garlic to give that bit of a kick,

You don't just to obviously eat garlic or curry to get that garlic breath.

[welliesinthespring]

I definitely haven't eaten anything remotely garlicky because I'm on a VLCD so I've only had porridge with water and shakes for 3 weeks now.

[SunnyBaudelaire]

no offence but a VLCD does not do wonders for your breath...

[juneybean]

Are you in ketosis?

[welliesinthespring]

That crossed my mind as well Sunny but while I know ketosis is not famed for minty freshness it smells NOTHING like garlic!

[OohIsThatAFlake]

There's your answer - if you are on a VLCD your breath will smell as ketones or something are excreted

[welliesinthespring]

But it isn't like garlic, is it? I do know what you mean but it's more of a metallic smell I notice!

[McSmoke]

I'd say it's the VLCD. My breath smelt like death when I did it. The lady was probably being kind when using garlic or chilli to describe it. Ketosis makes breath smell so bad. Listerine make mint breath strips (I bougt from ebay) which were recomended by all doing VLCD. The smell comes from within rather than the mouth.

[TinyMonkey]

Someone's breath smelling of garlic or chilli isn't particularly offensive in my book. So I wouldn't be overly bothered if someone said I smelt of either.

Proper halitosis is a complete different beast, a combination of rotting teeth and poor digestion with added coffee or fag breath, if my ex colleague was anything to go by.