Bad Breath also known as halitosis is quite a difficult situation to deal with it. It can be difficult to associate regularly with someone who has chronic bad breath, and it may be even more difficult to tell them of this embarrassing problem of which they are seemingly unaware. These are simple ways to make someone know they have bad breath;when to say it, how to say it, and where to say it.
When you shouldn’t tell someone their breath smells
Do not tell someone they have bad breath if;
- You are not close to this person. Many surveys have shown that people with bad breadth will not it like someone they’re not close to let them know. They’d rather a friend, family or someone close to them let them know they have bad breath.
- If their bad breath isn’t chronic. We all suffer from temporary halitosis (bad breath) at certain points in our lives. It may be due to sicknesses, medications, a spicy meal, or the occasional bad morning breath after a late night. If someone is suffering temporary bad breath due to normal factors such as these, be understanding and at most offer them a mint or stick of gum. Only tell them that they have a problem if they constantly have bad breath.
- 3. In a public setting. Telling someone they have bad breath is an embarrassing and often uncomfortable situation. Telling someone in public where other people can hear greatly amplifies the discomfort of the person with bad breath. If you can’t help them then don’t mention it. It is perfectly acceptable to help them out by offering them a mint or a piece of gum without telling.
There are several different ways of letting someone know they have bad breath. Determining which method is the best for you depends on your comfort level with the person, how close you are to them, and the time and place.
General rules:
- The closer you are to the person, the more direct you should be.
- The more regular the problem, the more direct you should be.
- Being direct. By being direct, it avoids any confusion that dropping hints may cause and it is the most effective way of helping them.
It may be a good idea to try dropping hints before telling someone about their bad breath directly. If you have dropped many hints and they still have bad breath all the time it might be time to directly tell them. By being direct, it avoids any confusion that dropping hints may cause and it is the most effective way of helping them.
- Gently let them know. There are different ways of being direct and it depends on the situation on which to use, but in any case you should avoid using colorful adjectives or similes to describe their breath. Don’t say “your breath smells like vomit/rotten eggs for instance. To start the conversation you can use one of these phrases:
“I noticed a problem and wasn’t sure if you’re aware…”
“If I had this problem I would want someone to tell me…”
Then you let them know with one of these phrases:
“You need to brush your teeth.”
“You need a breath mint/stick of gum”
After (or before) you let them know, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to tack on a term of endearment such as: dear, sweetie, etc.
Combine these phrases to create a sentence you believe would fit the situation best. A complete example could be something like this:
“Honey … I noticed a problem and wasn’t sure if you’re aware … your breath smells a bit off.”
- Be aware of your tone. You communicate not only through the words you say, but also through your body language and tonality. Be compassionate and understanding don’t be dramatic or demeaning.
- Help them out. After you let them know of their bad breath problem it is important that you help them with it. Offer them a mint, gum or a toothbrush to brush their teeth. If they are at your place buy them a toothbrush that they can keep there to use when they come over.
- Another way to help them is to reveal to them that you used to have the same problem. Let them know that everyone has this problem at one time or another and then offer some solid remedies that have worked for you in the past. Explain to them that they may have a dental issue, an infection or a health problem, and that they should make an appointment with a dentist.
- Dropping hints. This is an excellent way of letting them know that they have bad breath without actually telling them. Dropping hints works well when you are not close to the person, the person is only suffering from temporary halitosis, or when it isn’t the time or place to tell them directly that they have bad breath. Here are some different ways to drop a hint that they have bad breath:
- Pretend you have the problem. A good way to hint at something is to pretend that YOU’RE the one with the problem. If you’re talking about yourself, you can’t offend anyone else. Since you’re obviously not the one with bad breath, the other person will wonder why you’re talking about your own breath, and will then start thinking about their own breath.
- Offer them a mint/stick of gum. This is the easiest way of dropping a hint that they have bad breath, but also the least obvious. This method is great if you are not close to the person or if they are just suffering from temporary halitosis. It’s best if you take one yourself.
- Practice oral hygiene in front of them. This is a great way of letting others know that you think fresh breath and proper oral hygiene is important to you without telling them directly that their breath smells. Brush your teeth after meals in front of them or floss. Hopefully, showing your fanaticism for fresh breath will make them self-conscious of their own breath and encourage them to practice better oral care.
- Getting help from another person
One way to let a person know that they have bad breath is by telling one of their close friends or relatives. Most of the time people are not as offended when someone close tells them about their bad breath. If you feel as though you are close enough to that person, then you could possibly be the one to break the bad breath news.
- Leave an anonymous note. This is a good tactic especially if you are not close to the person. You can leave a note in their pillowcase, desk, book, or anywhere where they are sure to see it. Be sure to put it where someone else will not see. Here are some example notes you can use:
“I noticed a problem that you might not be aware of. You have a problem with bad breath. This doesn’t change the fact that I think you are awesome. It’s just that if I had this problem, I would want someone to tell me.”
Source: Ghana/StarrFMonline.com/103.5fm/ with files from Breathmd
