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Original poster

Told my breathe smells

120 replies

Spottyhippo · 25/02/2022 18:43

My lovely boss had to have this conversation with me today. She was as gentle and as nice as she could be. But it has been mentioned by a client and a coworker.

I floss and brush my teeth twice a day. I'm not gross I promise. But I do have quite a nasty infection in a wisdom tooth that I'm waiting for the dental hospital to see me about because it's too awkward for my normal dentist.

Anyway I'm going to start eating mints/ gum throughout the day to hopefully deal with things. But how do I deal with the embarrassment? I cried in front of my boss which I've never done in work before ever. She let me go home an hour early because I was upset so I know all my coworkers will know that I've been upset and will probably know why. And I just feel like I want to run away not have to face Monday. Any tips? Sad

OP posts:
whysoserious123 · 25/02/2022 20:53

@Kfjsjdbd

This doesn’t help but I also cried at work today and am mortified about it. I also want to hand in my notice over the weekend and am going to be embarrassed on Monday. So you’ve made me feel less alone.

It sounds like you need tougher antibiotics?

Whatever it is I hope your ok. If you need to chat about it another thread may be a good idea. But whatever it is please don't stress
DameDoom · 25/02/2022 21:00

Oh, I really do feel for you. I had an impacted wisdom tooth that got infected; it oozed poison that tasted foul and smelt rank.
All the well-meaning posts about tongue brushing and breath mints will not help at all - you need treatment fast.
I agree with the pp who said get on the phone to the dentist and really push your point. Weep, wail and tell them you cannot tolerate the agony a day longer. Don’t bother with the breath angle - they’ll only consider that an annoying symptom and not particularly serious.
Hope it gets sorted soon.

Cyberworrier · 25/02/2022 21:01

Just wanted to give you my sympathy OP, I'm glad you've had lots of sensible and compassionate advice.
Your predicament is very similar to a situation my husband had at a previous job- he has a chronic health condition that affected his appearance and his manager told him off. He was so ashamed and only told me about it recently. 😢
I would say shame is not justified in this situation- try to remind yourself that shame is an emotion for when you feel you've done something wrong. Checking the facts, you know what has caused the issue and it's a medical condition you have no control over. I hope you can manage it until it gets sorted and try to remove the negative emotions from the situation, they won't help you get through it and I bet you'd have lots of compassion for someone else in your position so try to have it for yourself.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General health
Hairyfriend · 25/02/2022 21:05

Gosh, it must be really horrendous if 2 people have been able to smell it, even with social distancing etc. Do you have any other friends/family you could ask for honest feedback? Is it painful? Can you eat? I'm surprised you aren't really sick with such a bad infection in your mouth.

I'd certainly be calling your GP/dentist for an update of when the surgery might be. Could you wear a mask with drops of an essential oil on it when you need to sit in a small room with others?

I've had to speak to a staff member about dreadful BO (he didn't wear deodorant) and it was mortifying for me, more than him. Your boss likely felt embarrassed to have to bring it up, but equally didn't sound very sympathetic that you are waiting for surgery Flowers

ABitOfAShitShow · 25/02/2022 21:13

So many useful things already mentioned here. I’ll just just chime in to say that this toothpaste is OFFENSIVELY ‘fresh’ after brushing. It literally ruins my morning coffee, anything orange, etc. None of the others ever have (I’m a toothpaste harlot).

And also, remember that you can’t help it. Chin up. 😘

Told my breathe smells
Etinoxaurus · 25/02/2022 21:18

@Spottyhippo
“Yes I told my boss about the infection. Still doesn’t make it any less embarrassing. She told me it wouldn’t be fair on me or coworkers or clients if it continues. Which I know. Feels a bit of a threat at the same time though. Sort it or be out of a job.”
Yikes! Join a Union now. How long have you been there?
I have something similar and chew sugar free gum and drink a lot of water.
Gently chew down on the gum as it ‘releases’ the pus 🥺
Flowers

userxx · 25/02/2022 21:18

@Hairyfriend

Gosh, it must be really horrendous if 2 people have been able to smell it, even with social distancing etc. Do you have any other friends/family you could ask for honest feedback? Is it painful? Can you eat? I'm surprised you aren't really sick with such a bad infection in your mouth.

I'd certainly be calling your GP/dentist for an update of when the surgery might be. Could you wear a mask with drops of an essential oil on it when you need to sit in a small room with others?

I've had to speak to a staff member about dreadful BO (he didn't wear deodorant) and it was mortifying for me, more than him. Your boss likely felt embarrassed to have to bring it up, but equally didn't sound very sympathetic that you are waiting for surgery Flowers

Is this meant to make the op feel better ?

I can remember my wisdom tooth turning bad, the taste was nasty and my breath wasn't the best, it's one of those things op, once it's sorted your mouth will return to normal. Don't let it ruin your day.

sageandbasil · 25/02/2022 21:25

I worked in a dental hospital as a dental nurse then j went to an admin role at 28 weeks pregnant. I dealt with making the apps for oral surgery, if someone phoned to chase a referral we'd give them an app there and then- there was a waiting list but it was so unorganised that if someone phoned and their referral was on the system we would just book them an app. Just be aware tho that the first app isn't to take it out it's a consultation. If they won't give you an app say it's causing you alot of pain... you could also try and get an emg app at the dental hospital which would then get you fast tracked. Hope you're okay that can't have been nice xx

ILoveAllRainbowsx · 25/02/2022 21:26

This happened to a co-worker of mine a couple of years ago.

A lot of us noticed it and the hr manager decided to tell him.

No one even thinks about it now and I haven't thought about it until your post.

PinkButtercups · 25/02/2022 21:26

First of all. Least you're aware of the problem,

What you need is a Tepe Compact Tuft Brush. Really brush around that tooth with this tuft brush. Followed by mouthwash. Once you've eaten lunch repeat the process and then again before bed.

Salt water rinses are also very good for this issue.

ILoveAllRainbowsx · 25/02/2022 21:26

So don't worry it's just one of those things it could happen to anyone.

Lots of people farted in front of their colleagues. They don't resign.

LouLou789 · 25/02/2022 21:27

There’s a breath freshener-style mouthwash called CB12 which kills bacteria. I got some during a time I had to take medication that made me feel too nauseous to clean my teeth first thing. You get it from Boots etc. I’m so sorry you are experiencing this.

sageandbasil · 25/02/2022 21:28

Also, it's absolutely not impossible for another dentist to do it. My husbands a periodontist and removes impacted wisdom teeth all the time... the people that work in the hospital also work in practices... they won't put you under a GA for one wisdom tooth or if they did the waiting list would be massive, they could offer sedation which practices also do

PinkButtercups · 25/02/2022 21:32

@sageandbasil

Also, it's absolutely not impossible for another dentist to do it. My husbands a periodontist and removes impacted wisdom teeth all the time... the people that work in the hospital also work in practices... they won't put you under a GA for one wisdom tooth or if they did the waiting list would be massive, they could offer sedation which practices also do
Depends if OP is private or NHS.

Our region sedation is only done in hospital. No practices sedate. I always had to refer out to the hospital for sedation.

sageandbasil · 25/02/2022 21:36

@PinkButtercups sorry I meant in private practices

Notanotherwindow · 25/02/2022 21:47

Make sure not to drink coffee or smoke. Both give you horrific bad breath. Drink water regularly throughout the day and floss religiously.

EmpressCixi · 25/02/2022 22:05

I’m sorry for your embarrassment. I would suggest the below as no one else has thought of it yet.

Go to a dental hygienist and have your teeth professionally cleaned.
An infection inside your wisdom tooth shouldn’t be causing such bad breath to the degree you have described. Flossing and brushing isn’t enough hygiene wise alone.

Agree with avoiding coffee and brushing after every meal/snack and only drinking water.

Talkwhilstyouwalk · 25/02/2022 22:11

@Spottyhippo

Yes I told my boss about the infection. Still doesn’t make it any less embarrassing. She told me it wouldn’t be fair on me or coworkers or clients if it continues. Which I know. Feels a bit of a threat at the same time though. Sort it or be out of a job. I will mention it to the dentist.
I'm so sorry you feel embarrassed, it will pass though! Go to the Dr's, hold your head up high and get the issue solved. We all have embarrassing health situations that arise from time to time, and bad breath is a common one.
WonderfulYou · 25/02/2022 22:23

I hope people take this thread on board the next time someone starts a thread asking how to tell their colleague they smell.
There’s usually so many rude replies on there because they forget the person is a human being with real feelings and there’s always a kind way to say things.

RicherThanYew · 25/02/2022 22:25

I'm still struggling to understand how a job in marketing could be threatened if someone had bad breath caused by an illness. I work in care and one of our staff had poor dental hygiene bless her, you could smell her breath even after she left the room but the employment law was crystal clear, she could not be threatened in any way, shape or form about losing her job over it.
Once you've got that ruddy tooth sorted you will be fine again Op, I'm sorry you're beating yourself up about this but honestly, your colleagues didn't know what the cause was until today so please go easy on yourself Flowers

whomoon · 25/02/2022 22:27

Highly highly highly recommend rinsing with warm salt water twice a day. Naturally antibacterial so it will aid the healing of the infection and keep your mouth clean.

I had an infection start on a bank holiday weekend and couldn’t get to the dentist, it was swollen and full of puss, but warm salty water upto four times a day completely cleared it and I didn’t need to go to dentist and have had no problems since.

It’s my go to for any ailments in my mouth/teeth.

Yaya26 · 25/02/2022 22:30

Aw poor you. Xxxxx Can you go private to speed the extraction?

Talkwhilstyouwalk · 25/02/2022 22:39

Also, corsodyl is good stuff. I've used it for a few mouth issues like ulcers, painful gums etc and it sorts it out every time.

thebabessavedme · 25/02/2022 22:44

I think a lot of people need to remember that most of us have had very little access to a dentist for the last couple of years, i should imagine a great many of us are suffering with bad teeth/breath atm. it's not poor dental hygiene because we cant be bothered, its pure lack of avalibilty of dentists

Scianel · 25/02/2022 22:47

OP don't be embarrassed. It's not that uncommon for impacted wisdom teeth to have chronic infection that unfortunately doensn't smell great but it's not you - it'll go when the tooth does.

I think it was very unfair of your boss to imply get it sorted or else - what are you meant to do if the wait time is the wait time?

That being said I had my impacted wisdoms out privately and it wasn't crazily expensive because I had sedation rather than a GA so might be worth looking into that as it will ultimately cost much less than going off sick for the whole time period until the procedure.