To think she’s being weird about my breath?

[Cafeaulait27]

A colleague who I am friendly with and sit next to seems to be hinting that I have bad breath. It happened before covid too, but now we are supposed to be two metres apart all the time although she sometimes comes too close to me when showing me things which is annoying. She just gets her gum out sometimes and says ‘do you want some gum...’ I mostly say no thanks because I have my own and then she says ‘not that I’m saying you need it..’ this doesn’t happen while we are talking, it happens when I’m just working looking at my computer so it’s even weirder! It’s hard to explain but feels like a really obvious hint and we are in an open plan office, I often feel embarrassed like she’s shaming me in front of my colleagues who can probably hear this nearly every day.

I have good teeth (recently had a check up with no issues) I don’t drink coffee during the week and avoid garlic during the week. I brush my teeth And tongue twice a day. I drink lots of water at work and maybe have one tea. I usually have gum after lunch.

I haven’t been told I have bad breath by anyone else and my husband says I don’t but this is really worrying and upsetting me.

Does she just have a really powerful sense of smell or do I really have bad breath? I don’t really have anyone else I can ask that I wouldn’t be embarrassed to ask. Sometimes I wonder if my husband can’t smell it because he’s around me all the time and we eat the same food?!

I should maybe also mention that I eat a healthy balanced diet with lots of veg.

I see others in the office eating garlicky food at lunch and having coffee and none of them seem to worry about this... I feel like I’ve become so self conscious whenever I speak and try to chew gum whenever I think I’m going to be in a situation where people might smell it.

Not sure what to do?! I don’t like bad breath either but I’m not sure what else I can do if I do have it, and I’m not sure what to do if she’s being unreasonable about it either? I’m kind of scared to confront her in case she says ‘yes, you do have foul breath’

It’s all so embarrassing and upsetting ☹️

Could it be her own breath she is smelling since she is not always near you and uses gum a lot? Maybe she cant recognise her own problem and attributes it to you. Next time say "oh can you smell my mouthwash or something nasty?"

Buy some mints and offer some to her at least 3 times a day for a couple of weeks. She might get offended and back off for good

This thread is an example of how MN can be barking mad.

Woman offers co-worker a gum (totally normal thing everyone does when eating gum/sweets), gets called manipulative, obsessed, fixated, an arsehole.

Christ I hate to think what would happen if she ever offers the OP a Haribo.

@Iamthedevilinthedetail surely 95% of the population are garlic eaters?

It sounds like she's just offering you gum? Surely if she was trying to hint about your breath she wouldn't say "not that you need it"? Would be a bit counter-productive to offer you some then say you don't need it! I can understand it makes you a bit uncomfortable but from your OP I would say you have nothing to worry about. At least you're aware of your own personal hygiene.

'No thanks. And you can stop asking now' (big fake smile)

Next time she tries to pass work off as hers, rip her fucking face off.

'No need to worry about your breath now eh'

Start offering her antiperspirant and deodorants.

If you actually did have bad breath there is no way she would voluntarily come close to you, which she seems to be doing

I think bad breath can come from an empty stomach sometimes, are you on a very low calorie diet or do you not eat much during the day? It might be that (if you do even have bad Breath)?

Op has said she doesnt eat garlic.

At the end of the day if a common food ingredient is so offensive to her as far as Im concerned thats her problem, lifes too short to avoid garlic

If you’ve asked your DH and he’s said no and your dentist found no issues then I think you can relax. Either it’s an innocuous comment you’re over interpreting, or she’s being PA, either way ignore it.

If you want further reassurance you could ask your dentist next time if your breath is ok. Dentist will tell you straight, it’s part of their job.

Sounds to me like she’s just offering gum? Surely your DH would tell you the truth because let’s be honest, he’s the one that has to live with you?!

Confined spaces can be difficult. I eat it myself and use it in cooking, but I use it sparingly. I really can't abide the smell on other people, even DH who has weakened me up in the night with garlic breath. I know it's my problem - lots of people have smells that they can't abide. Mine just happens to be garlic.

Im shocked that op and colleague are that close to each other that they can smell each others breath....i dont get that close to anyone even before Covid...i dont think anyones breath is particularly pleasant so i dont go right up in peoples faces and i back away if someone comes up in mine.

My boss has really bad breath, like knock-out bad

It’s usually because he is always trying to lose weight, and eats very “healthy” meals, eg skinny veg soup

I can smell on people’s breath if they are fasting/dieting and it’s the worst smell

Sometimes DH walks through the door and I’ll say “have something to eat, you skipped lunch” he is always surprised I can smell that on him

So, do you eat low cal/low carb/5:2 etc/skip meals/? As that wreaks havoc with your breath

...maybe she is just offering you gum?