To help me stop being the smelly one

[Stinker12345]

I really need your help, I am the smelly person in the office and despite everything I do I can’t seem to change it.

I think the main thing is my breath. I brush, floss and use mouthwash every day and use a tongue scraper thing. I visit the dentist and hygienist twice a year each. I drink water, avoid onions and garlic. But still, people put their hands over their noses, stand back from me and try not to get close when I talk.

It means I don’t speak up in meetings, it’s really stressful when people come up to my desk unexpectedly. Usually I try and prepare for when I need to speak (gum, mints, mouthwash etc) so I hate being caught by surprise.

Masks have been a godsend but they are no longer a requirement since a few weeks and I can see it more and more when I speak to people.

I am a clean person, shower every day, wash clothes and bedding regularly but this makes me feel dirty and horrible. Has anyone any advice? It is getting me down so much, I want to curl up and die. I don’t have a partner so can’t ask them to smell me and I think everyone I work with thinks ‘I know why!’

Thank you

My tonsils haven't been technically removed but they are so scarred my ENT specialist thought they had been removed and I still get tonsil stones. But you can usually see them if you shine a torch where your tonsils used to be.

Also might be worth looking into this - trimethylaminuria ….

i think some of this is psychological, you need to have REALLY bad breath for someone you're talking too to pick up on it to the point they'd cover their face and back off from you.

Can you smell your own breath, cup your hand in front of your face, breathe out, then sniff. If it was THAT bad, you'd corpse yourself.

Other than that, you need to consult your Dr, and if you have a partner/mum/dad you speak to, ask them.. if they can't smell anything off you, then its really just you seeing things that aren't there.

I would ask, as a though, have you noticed if you tend to spit when you talk? In this covid era, it might be that more than breath? maybe?

OP do you take any medication? Anti-depressants for example can cause a dry mouth which may cause bad breath.

You say that the main thing is your breath - do you feel that you smell is general? Is this an ongoing thing? Can you pinpoint when it started?

I used to really suffer with this, the only thing I can think is that stress didn't help. I know that may not be much help but if you know you are stressed then maybe try some mindfulness to keep on top of it?

See another doctor if you were fobbed off. Explain its having a negati5 impact on your quality of life. It should not be dismissed. If it is see someone else. Atm I'm finding our usually good GO service absolutely rubbish even for the kids. We've gone private a couple of times and things just got sorted out immediately. I would recommend that if you can afford it.

How are your sinuses? One of my mates has chronic sinusitis and when it's not under control he breathes through his mouth all day and gets bad breath.

A doctor should be able to advise on whatever underlaying cause it is.

Oh this must be making you feel so self conscious. Have you anyone you're very close to in your life who would give you an honest assessment? Before you start booking doctors appointments I think you should find out if it really is you. Just thinking, in your shoes I would ask my boyfriend who I know would tell me the truth. Also what pp said about coffee, do you drink any? Coffee breath can be awful!

Try a course of decent probiotics.

Does your breath definitely smell, if the dentist and doctor couldn't notice it? Can you smell it? Is it possible that you think people are reacting to it but they aren't really?

Tonsils can regrow after removal.

My DH had his tonsils removed because he had the most disgusting smelling tonsil stones and the surgeon warned him that his tonsils might regrow. Also, if you have them removed as an adult they can't fully remove them because they're too close to important blood vessels, and the bit they leave behind can be enough to have tonsil stones. He's had a few in the nearly 10 years since they were removed but no ongoing ones.

Do you drink coffee? In my experience the people who have trouble with their breath tend to be the ones who drink a lot of coffee.

I’d also speak to your gp again - it’s not a minor issue if it’s affecting your life, you deserve to have this looked into in case a solution can be found.

Also fennel seeds which are very refreshing and leave a fresh smell in your mouth.

Also very rude for people to react that way to you, there is a way to do things and that is not the way. Don't let them grind you down

Thank you for everyone being so kind.

@1990b @emotionalsupportbear it’s not pantomime type movements, just things I notice, and I can see a few people have asked if I might be imagining or overthinking it. It’s things like, people moving their hand to their face but only when I’m speaking in a group conversation. Putting them their finger under their nose when I speak rather than stepping back in horror

@gorl I’ve cut coffee out at work, I just have it at weekends now but I do drink tea.

I do seem to have post nasal drip and sleep with my mouth open. I use cb12 mouthwash

I’ll speak to my Dr again. I’ve asked my dentist and they’ve said I am doing everything right, they suggested cleaning my teeth at lunchtime too which I do sometimes but it’s not always possible. All dentists are properly masked up since COVID so it’s hard for them to say

That was long! Thanks so much for being so nice about it xxx

I use some mint breath freshening drops called Wow drops, they are really strong and would definitely help you feel more confident. You can find it on Amazon. If you put a few drops in water it acts like mouthwash too and it’s a tiny bottle so easy to carry in your handbag

Cut out dairy, OP. See if that helps.

Had a colleague who had gird. Her breath was quite smelly. Even from few metres distance.

Try taking some good quality probiotics, and mix them up a bit. If it is coming from lower down your digestive tract that might help.

@Stinker12345 post nasal drip and mouth breathing at night won't help
Speak to gp first to establish cause and dentist may also help with mouth breathing

Try cutting out animal products- see if that helps. Not eating the flesh and by products of dead beings might make a difference.

@TaraR2020 that's interesting what you say about the dentist - can they tell you if you have sinus issues too do you know?
I've considered over recent yrs having surgery to 'open' mine (or nose job???) as I too am a mouth breather at night - I've tried the strips which help. Wouldn't know who to ask who could tell me.

Try going vegan. Not eating the rotting flesh of beings might help the bacteria in your gut be healthier, which might mean better breath.

Ask your GP about Hyperosmia.

Way to crowbar that agenda in poppymaewrite

(I'm also a vegan before you come at me)

Try going vegan. Not eating the rotting flesh of beings might help the bacteria in your gut be healthier, which might mean better breath.

Oh do get over yourself. No-one eats "rotting flesh" .