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General health

Would u tell your mate she had bad breath?

16 replies

alexa1 · 13/09/2006 19:34

Hi. A friend of DH and I has really bad breath and I don't Just mean now and again, it's constant. In fact, I am yet to talk to her and her breath is fresh. It's that bad that I can smell it if I am sitting across the room.

Her and her DH have split up and he said that he tackled her about the problem but she wasn't interested. Apparantly she has a fear of Dentists and doesn't like the taste of toothpaste. Her colleagues at work have also complained to management who have had a word, this was months ago and yet she still has bad breath. I have never in my life smelt anything like it on anyone else.

The thing is, I have only known her for 2 years and wouldn't say she is a best mate or anything, so I don't think I should say anything and even if I did, would she do anything about it. Her DH and work colleagues have said something but she doesn't care. What would you do or say to a friend of yours?

If someone told me I had bad breath I would be mortified. MY DH assured me that he would tell me if I did.

OP posts:

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Californifrau · 13/09/2006 19:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

southeastastra · 13/09/2006 19:40

can you tell her in a jokey way like 'blimey what have you been eating'?

VeniVidiVickiQV · 13/09/2006 19:41

I would tell her. Most definitely. And not in a jokey way either.

Tinker · 13/09/2006 19:42

Anonymous letter? If her ex has told her then she knows already. Could be a sign of illness if that bad and persistent.

charliecat · 13/09/2006 19:43

Dp doesnt like dentists and has awful teeth. His breath has often smelt like dogshit. He has been completely oblivious.
I am the only person who has ever said anything to him So he has often thought that im getting at him for nothing, when the truth of it is I can smell his breath from the other side of the room
I would want to be told so i could go do something about it, personally.
DP doesnt rush to sort it out though...its becasue they cant smell it...hw that is i dont know though.

jalopy · 13/09/2006 19:45

Southeastastra, would agree with you. That, at least, would help steer the conversation in the right direction.

alexa1 · 13/09/2006 19:47

wow charliecat - get out there and get some floss and mouthwash ASAP. No seriously, I would be mortified if someone told me that and would do something straight away. my friend however, seems not to care one bit.

As someone else posted. How can u not know if u smell, whether it's BO or bad breath.

OP posts:

albatros · 13/09/2006 19:48

I agree I would like to be told. I have recurrent mouth infections and am very aware of my breath, if I think it is a problem I try to face away from people when speaking. Nobody has ever told me but I wouldn't be offended if they did

TooTicky · 13/09/2006 19:49

If she has already been told then I wouldn't, it may just make her feel picked on. Sometimes people know they have a problem but don't know how to deal with it. If anything, maybe engineer a conversation about how you've found a great new toothpaste - a lot of the ones you find in health food shops (Green People/Kingfisher/Urtekram/Sarakan/Tom's of Maine) taste better because they are more natural and there is a variety of flavours.

alexa1 · 13/09/2006 19:49

Southeastra - We have done all the 'What have u been eating line' and she Just laughs. Seriously, she doesn't care.

She has said on several occasions (not sure if it's an excuse) that she has no sense of smell.

OP posts:

charliecat · 13/09/2006 19:50

I thought dp didnt care, he just didnt understand how bloody awful it was. It was me being BRUTALLY honest and saying look , your breath smells like dogshit, PLEASE do something about it that has prompted him to get to the dentist, get some teeth removed and he even asked me to buy mouthwasht he other day so

bananaloaf · 13/09/2006 19:50

charlie cat my dh has bad breadth, i do tell him but it doesnt seem to sink in. i even tell him when(blue moon) he flosses if he then smells (sorry if tmi) the floss that is what is breadth smell like. It is after all decaying food. wouldnt let the bin get that bad. as for op if you can smell it across the room you need to tell her. good luck

charliecat · 13/09/2006 19:52

Its awful isnt it? And you wouldnt be saying it if its wasnt true

jalopy · 13/09/2006 19:53

Maybe just get her to focus on her fear of dentists. Advise her to have her teeth checked because of all the possible problems she might develop in the future. Hopefully, if you encourage her to visit the dentist, he/she can tell her instead.

alexa1 · 13/09/2006 19:56

jalopy - Her DH takes their kids to the dentist regularly and he goes to so you think she would try and make an effort, but she really does have a fear of Dentists and said the only way she would go was if she had to be knocked out.

Her teeth are in a really bad way too. They are brownish and crooked. I feel sorry for in the fact she has a phobia of dentists but to go through life having bad breath is no joke.

I don't know.

OP posts:

jalopy · 13/09/2006 20:00

Blimey, her teeth sound dreadful. Isn't she worried about dental abcesses, gum disease or loss of teeth?
It's quite sad really. She's obviously in denial.

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