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.

If you are volunteering then you need to pass on your concerns to a more experienced member of staff to deal with.

Do her teeth look dirty?

That would be a clue.

Anyway, you'll need to speak to a Teacher. You might get in to trouble if you don't :)

I'm not trying to diagnose it :) but obviously I recognise smells like everybody and I know it isn't pear drops, metallic or faeces. It is like morning breath.

I haven't really looked at her teeth. I've already spoken to somebody about it but nothing has happened, so I did wonder if I should gently mention it but the consensus is not so I won't :)

Please don't give up, I would check again with her teacher or pastoral care coordinator if anyone is dealing with this. It could be why she doesn't have many friends. You could really help make a positive difference if you can follow up behind the scenes to help ensure something is done. She could be teased by her peers or made to feel an outcast if it's not dealt with.

I think it is kind of you to care pink

Too many people ignore bad breath.judging by the vile smells I'm constantly gagging on

If the smell is as bad as you say, she needs a bit of help. :)

You don't know if nothing has happened. Things like this are noted and often dealt with without the person raising the concern getting any feedback. This is partly because teachers are busy (and, no offence, but volunteers may not particularly be on their radar) and also because CP procedures mean that confidentiality is paramount - this could be part of a bigger picture of which you have been told nothing. No harm in mentioning it again but it may be something that you have to let go. I would suggest that you don't pester various members of staff, you presumably have someone who is overseeing your work - speak to them.

She could have a confidential medical condition which should not be discussed with you, it could be an issue that requires SS involvement and again not something that should be discussed with you, etc. - you don't know that nothing has happened.

I have a child with bad breath.

It is horrible and it worries me sick.

It is not due to his dental hygiene. He has seen GP's and the dentist and I make sure to watch him clean his teeth and floss.

We are all still trying to work out where it is coming from, no medical conditions have been found but his teeth have grown in funny which means he has big gaps between his gums and teeth but still, good dental hygiene isn't solving it.

I hate it for him, and I hate even more that people would assume it is a lack of dental hygiene.

Every day he goes to school I worry that someone will say something to him or someone will think I am not taking care of his properly. He has had sugar free gum after dinner and mouth spray but it never helped.

You say she has social issues? Often people on the spectrum have digestive issues, this can cause bad breath. It's actually quite common (ds2 has problems). Things that help, casien free and gluten free. If not (ds wouldn't) then we found retardex to be helpful. Cleaning teeth just was not enough, nor mints/sugar free gum. Retardex mouth wash and spray did the trick. It's a bit pricier than other mouth washes, but in ds's opinion worth it.
I'm letting you know all this so that you can reassure that it's not uncommon and provide a solution. Hope it helps.

Thanks for the retadex recommendation. I just ordered some.