Smelly breath

[Foogy]

Title says it all, not garlic/coffee breath but actually rotting teeth breath, and he's someone I'm dating fairly recently and this has always been a problem although our last date it had gone from mild to pretty severe. He's nice in every other way, good looking, career, personality.

Howsithanging, Only slept with him a few times and not all night. It was a mild smell before although not pleasant with chewing gum it was ok. However the last date was markedly worse which has made me think I cannot put uo with this. But everything else is nice and clean, so it seems it's a problem he could perhaps sort out

You say, 'Look, there's no easy way of saying this, but because I like you, I have to. I've got a problem with how your breath smells. I'm sure there's an easy way of fixing it, like mouthwash or getting a dental check up. I though you might like to know, rather than me just backing off.'

If he's not polishing the mantle mirror, he's not brushing out the grate.

Yuk!

Apologies then for my post above as I see he is clean elsewhere.

Floss is so last century. Tepee brushes now and I love waterpik.

I have noticed though that dentists tend to marry other dentists. I guess they can only trust one another as to mouth hygiene. The only area unable to be sterile during operations, apparently!

paddy, that was funny but yes I would certainly not be seeing him if he smelt elsewhere. Interesting about dentists marrying each other! I'm sure he brushes his teeth it's an underlying issue he has.

I went to a dentist once who had halitosis, didn't think it was a very good sign about her dental awareness so I switched dentists but maybe she had cheesy tonsils rather than rotten teeth!

Foogy, looks like you have 3 options:

1. Say nothing, break up and move on.

1. Say something, risk it being awkward and you still end up breaking up as you just can't get past it because you're both too embarrassed.

1. Say something, he takes it well, deals with the problem, isn't uncomfortable about you mentioning it and you can get up close and personal without having to hold your breath.

So, on balance, I think it's worth trying for option 3. Could end up being option 2 but worth a bash.

In terms of how to broach, as someone else has said, best to be straight, would say something like, "I really like you so I hope you don't mind me mentioning this but you have halitosis and I think it might be caused by your tonsils or something else underlying so it might be worth getting checked out."

If you can be down to earth and matter of fact about it, should make it less awkward.

Bite the bullet, good luck and keep us posted!

Create a new email address and send him a note anonymously?

Does he have gingivitis? If so its really important he goes to the dentist. It smells awful. It also gets worse without treatment.

Foogy,
There is no other way to deal with this, IMO, other than to bite the bullet and tell him straight. I don't think dropping hints like buying him an electric toothbrush will work.
Say that you are concerned for his general health and suggest he sees a dental hygienist/dentist for a check up.
There are many causes of bad breath and some are quite serious, so you need to do him a favour and tell him,

www.colgate.com/en/us/oc/oral-health/conditions/bad-breath/article/ada-03-what-causes-bad-breath

Yes it could be bad gums/gingivitis.

I know someone who had awful breath for years and years. He was always brushing his teeth during the day at work and used mints but it didn't really make a difference. If he spoke to you from several feet away you would be able to smell it. He has never sorted it out. Maybe some people just suffer from halitosis whatever they do.

Can you bring up a conversation about needing to go to the dentist and find out if he visits regularly?

Can't stop laughing at the dentist with halitosis!!! Also, Nice like that idea, I could pretend I'm a work colleague but want to keep it anonymous. However as most of you have said, I should just have a down to earth conversation with him, maybe it would help him in the long run, or maybe it would be really cringey for both of us .

My teenage son had bad breath, and his friends kept on at him about it: flossing didn't work but using the smallest size of Teepee brush completely did. Friend's daughter had bad breath that was terrible but nothing to do with her teeth: the doctor recommended a completely different diet with more fruit and vegetables and special yoghourt and that cured it within a week.

A good friend tends to bad breath (though his hygiene is generally good) and mostly I've said tactfully "could I suggest a quick tooth brush before you go out"

Could you start off by saying that now and then, then after giving it a bit of time working up to a proper conversation about it? If you approach it over time then maybe it'll be softening him up a bit.

You have to ask yourself how much you want the relationship to work?

Think about it logically Foogy, you have been exchanging bodily fluids and yet you can't discuss his breath. I bet if he didn't wash his nether regions, you'd tell him!

If he's over 20, I can't see it being tonsils. Maybe a bad tooth but more likely poor hygiene between teeth and as someone else suggested not tongue brushing. (I love Tung gel)

If you want to keep him you are going to discuss this.

It is tough as in our culture for some reason we don't discus bad bodily smells but everyone despises them!

There may be several reasons behind bad smell - gingivitis is probably easiest to fix - a visit to a dental hygienist + interdental brushing daily and regular visits afterwards.
If he doesn't address it now his teeth will fall out.

I know people who have bad breath don't notice it themselves.

Other reasons my be sinusitis or even stomach issues.
Does he snore?