How Can You Tell Someone That They Have Bad Breath (Without Making It Awkward)!

Irrespective of the social scenario, any kind of bad odour impacts the event's mood. Whether it is a party or a normal gathering with friends or family over a lunch table, it can be difficult to notice that someone in your group has bad breath and has no idea about it. And the worst thing is that you would have to be the bearer of bad news to them.

While there are many home remedies for bad breath, a person simply cannot help themselves if they are unaware of the fact that they stink. And no matter how well you know a friend or how close you are with a family, remember, it is awkward with everyone. In this blog today, let us look at the reasons for bad breath and how you can tell someone if they have bad breath without making it awkward.

Why can't the person themself smell it?

Generally stated, there are many reasons why a person may have bad breath. From eating habits to hygiene habits, there are many contributing factors that lead to a stinky air of breath every time they speak. From health conditions such as acid reflux and lactose intolerance to poor dental hygiene, you can never figure out what is the main reason for the bad breath of the person who is standing in front of you. The major issue of bad breath is that it is a bigger problem for the people around than the person who has the bad smell from teeth. Unlike mouth breathing, what brings out the foul smell that is back in the mouth is talking.

To any person who is looking to get rid of bad breath, the first thing that they need to do is to notice when you have a puff of their breath on your hand; it basically won't provide any kind of indication of how your mouth smells as your throat has a habit of working differently when you talk vs when you breathe. It is natural that people are unable to detect their own scent unless they have a keen interest in a certain foul odour.

Telling the person is always awkward.

Forget about mouthwash, as even though it can be a momentary remedy, it certainly will not kick the foul smell away from the person. Do not even consider getting a pocket-friendly mouth for that dear friend or co-worker and putting it on their desk for them to get the hint.

These sorts of conversations need to happen away from the crowd or anybody else. The last thing you would want is to direct the unnecessary attention from the crowd to yourself and the person you would be breaking the news to. Therefore, take the person to another room and tell them that there is something that they need to do. You can carry some mints while talking to the person, and if they deny having one, nudge them and tell them that they should. The key here is empathy. Always be empathetic to the person you are talking to. Tell them about a time when you had such a problem, even if it isn't true. If the person is sensitive, there should be extra measures from your side while you are approaching that person.

Five tips to tell someone they have bad breath

There are many ways on how to deal with bad breath. The key here is to be subtle and considerate. Here are five tips you can utilise to tell someone that they have a bad breath:

• It is extremely crucial to be as sincere and gentle as you can possibly be. While discussing this problem with someone you deeply care about, try to take some time to think about the choice of words and your tonality of speaking. For example, using terms like off and noticeable rather than words like bad and terrible would be wise.
• Do not approach the person who has bad breath with a statement. Rather, approach it with a question. It is not something you need to get off your chest. Just ask them if they have noticed any changes in their breath or taste. Then, carry that conversation from there.
• You can try a book approach and hand them a guidebook on how to get rid of bad breath. The key here is to empathise with the person.
• Always have such a conversation privately instead of having it in the presence of a crowd.
• Use a relevant story while discussing the issue, even if the story is made up.

Wrapping Up

While it is difficult to have such a conversation with the person, it is effective if you do it right. Speaking of home remedies for bad breath, you would never want to be on the other side. Therefore, consider making a significant change like the introduction of Dabur Meswak to your hygiene to keep bad breath at bay.

FAQs

• What causes bad breath in someone?

  From eating habits to hygiene habits, there are many contributing factors that lead to a stinky air of breath every time they speak.

• Can a mouthwash help you get rid of bad breath?

  Mouthwash can be a momentary remedy. However, it certainly will not kick the foul smell away from the person.

• How can I tell someone that they have bad breath?

  Just ask them if they have noticed any changes in their breath or taste. Then, carry that conversation from there.

• How to empathise with someone who has bad breath?

  You may tell them about a time when you had such a problem. Even though it is made up, the person can relate to it.