How to tell my partner he has bad breath?

[hairylegsdontcare]

I have noticed that in the past few days, my DH has got really bad breath. It has come on very suddenly. It smells kinda sour, but hard to describe.

His oral hygiene is good, his diet is good (and unchanged in the last few days), he doesn't smoke, isn't ill, and drinks almost nothing.

What could be causing this, and how on earth can I tell him? This is not something I can live with.

My partner and I will easily tell one another. Its only difficult the first time! But really it could be a sign of some illness so I would suggest getting it looked into (unless he has a recent diet change etc or doesn't brush his tongue). You could use that as your angle in:
'I am about worried as I know how careful you are with hygiene, but recently your breath doesn't smell so good and I'm worried that you may not be very well, have you noticed anything not feeling right? Have you been going to the loo the same as normal?'

If it's only just come on it could be anything from an infection to a sign of possible diabetes or has he recently started a fasting diet or ketosis diet?

Some people (I've read on forums) don't tell their family they are doing a fasting diet so maybe ask the question.

I think as long as you phrase it nicely and when you two are by yourselves it will be ok

Please tell him. He will want to know.
Could be be something like tonsil stones?

Mouth ulcers?

My dh's breath stinks when he has a sore throat / infection

I just told him. I agonized about it but in the end, kissing was deeply, deeply unpleasant.

He was miffed initially but then he went to the dentist and it cleared up.

Now I just tell him the smells back.

Thanks everyone. I think I need to just bite the bullet and tell him. His diet is pretty similar to mine, and hasn't changed dramatically. I noticed he has a bit of a cold this morning so maybe it's linked to that. If it doesn't go away I'll gently suggest he sees the dentist. I would want someone to tell me, so hopefully he is the same and won't get offended!

artiface that is a good suggestion- I think I'll broach the subject somewhere along those lines

Could well be the cold. DH's is sometimes awful after a nosebleed.

I would just say 'Are you ok? Have you got a sore throats or something? Your breath smells different?'
Gets the message across and is inoffensive.

Could be tonsils. Or the sour reminds me of my dad who has terrible GERD ( reflux).
Best mouth wash is colgate peroxyl if its tonsil related