to tell student their breath smells

[pinklilmiss]

I am volunteering in a school hoping to become a teacher, and I am supporting a girl with social issues. She is a nice girl but her breath is awful, very smelly and she doesn't stand particularly close so it is strong. I asked her something on Monday and she sighed and I was nearly sick!

The smell is bad hygiene by the way - it is like "morning breath". I just think she isn't brushing her teeth.

Wibu to gently tell her as she doesn't have many friends.

When you say a 'girl' how old do you mean? And what do you mean by supporting her with social issues??

I'm guessing if she requires help with social issues then she probably has a very delicate ego. You would need to go gently with her but yes, I'd recommend you tell her. How you do that and your next steps will depend on her age.

Unless you know her medical history, I'm not sure how you can know it's due to bed hygiene?

Is she clean otherwise? Will she own a toothbrush and toothpaste at home? It seems that it would help her to know but it is tricky as it might really upset or shame her and she might not be in a position to do anything about it.

YWBU depending on the reason for her social issues, she could become confused, upset and it could knock what little confidence she has. Is there not a Base worker you could talk to, who could talk to all the children on the Base about personal hygine from a PHSE angle, or a form tutor, or parent or care giver. Please don't broach it directly. SHe may well have been bullied about it and it could destry your rapport if it goes badly

True worra but it doesn't smell like food or that unpleasant metallic smell that can happen when you're dehydrated - it's like as I said morning breath but very strong.

She is 17. Don't worry, I wasn't thinking of telling her bluntly but bringing it up gently or getting someone else to.

YABU, that's a job for someone who knows her better like the class teacher surely?

You are volunteering? Please talk to form tutor or SENCO who knows the child and the full background. I appreciate you want to solve the problem but I don't think it is your place.

I work in a Secondary school and my first response with a case like that would be to talk to the pastoral staff (head of year or head of house depending on the school). They will know more about the student and will be able to handle it delicately.

We've provided toothbrush and toothpaste for children to brush their teeth at school in the morning in the past, or washed school uniform for other children if their clothes aren't being washed regularly, but it's all done discreetly through the pastoral staff.

Agree with Wolfiefan

My daughters breath is foul at the moment.(shes10) It always is when she's cutting teeth.Even as a baby.She brushes flosses uses mouthwash nothing helps.Ive told her nicely and I'm her mum she is really self conscious about it.If you want to tackle it with a young person tread very carefully.You could always offer her a mint or some gum.Your school should have pastoral support who may be better placed to offer support.Its nice that you care though.

Does she eat breakfast do you know? An empty stomach can cause bad breath.

By social issues do you mean Autistic Spectrum?

She could be diabetic

I would tell her myself. Nicely but directly.

just offer her a mint and speak to pastoral

She might be lactose intolerant. That makes breath smell like faeces. She might have a bowel disorder, this can affect breath too.

V strong morning breath type smell can be tonsil stones too
I get them and (first time I've said this!) sometimes I can be talking to someone, get a whiff and immediately think "tonsil stones"

My dd (admittedly much younger than this) gets terrible bad breath if she gets constipated. No amount of toothbrushing and mouthwash helps when it happens.

I think the girl should be made aware of it but perhaps by someone who she has a closer relationship with.

I would get the class teacher to speak to her.

Sounds like great advice to talk to pastoral staff. We run a mentoring scheme for 10 - 16s who are at risk of exclusion and who also have a few other indicator issues and personal hygiene can be a real problem for some. The high schools we work in have amazing and very discreet pastoral staff who deal with issues like this every day. I think you run the risk of alienating her and losing her trust if you raise it directly without the benefit of a closer relationship than I'd think you have as a volunteer. Nice to know you care though. Not sure what exactly ilikeyourface is trying to say, not particularly helpful

I was going to say what Gobbin just said. I get terrible breath from having milk, or if I eat food with cream or milk in the sauce.

DD has awfully smelly breath. She has the same diet and hygiene routine as the rest of the family... I know this because I help her with it as she has LD. She takes a lot of medication for epilepsy; I often wonder if that's the cause.

OMG under no circumstances do you deal with this yourself. You refer it to a member of staff. It would be very inappropriate for you to say anything yourself, as a volunteer. Overstepping the mark. I find it bizarre that you are asking on here rather than at school.

This is what I was trying to explain in my opening post: it isn't diabetes as I would have been made aware and besides that is a distinctive smell of pear drops, or an empty stomach as again that is a different sort of smell.

It is unbrushed teeth but VERY strong. Tonsil stones are definitely possible because it is that sort of smell.

She's otherwise clean so it could well be that or just not brushing her teeth properly. She hasn't got asd, she just needs support as she hasn't many friends - she's absolutely lovely but a little bit immature socially.

I think you should stop trying to diagnose this but pass on your concerns to the teacher or whoever is in charge of pastoral care. They may well know something about her medical history which is none of your business or may chose to take this up with her parents, with her directly or with someone else responsible for her care.