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How to Tell Someone They Have Bad Breath
By R. Drysdale
Have you ever wondered how to tell
someone they have bad breath? It’s a tricky problem,
particularly if you don’t know the person very well. Having bad
breath is something most people dread, and being told that one
has it would be about as bad as being informed that you have head
lice.
Before you spend time trying to
figure out how to tell someone they have bad breath, consider
that halitosis is sometimes temporary. It may be caused by
something the person ate, an infection that will pass in a few
days, or a habit like smoking. In these cases, it serves no
purpose to embarrass the person by pointing out the problem.
Leave it alone and it will probably go away.
If you’ve noticed that someone
has frequent, or constant, bad breath, you probably are more than
a casual acquaintance and may be in a position to say something.
If you are not a close acquaintance, however, or the person is in
a position of authority – your boss perhaps – leave it alone
unless you’re certain you won’t suffer unfortunate
consequences.
Depending on your relationship
with the person, it might also be easier, and wiser, to talk
privately with one of their close friends about how to tell
someone they have bad breath. The friend may take the dilemma off
your hands or suggest a good approach. You may also learn that
your well-intended intervention is unnecessary – they already
know (and most people with bad breath know they have it).
If you are determined to speak up
and you really want to know how to tell someone they have bad
breath, the best approach is to place yourself in their shoes –
really put yourself there: try something like “Frank, I notice
that you are suffering from something that I used to have a big
problem with too.” Put it this way even if you have never had
bad breath a day in your life, because it will make it seem like
you are really trying to help instead of making an accusation or
a criticism. If you’ve had it too, it’s not so bad that they
have it.
Finally, if you decide to go
ahead, it might be a good idea to educate yourself on available
remedies for bad breath, so that you can offer suggestions, not
just deliver the bad news.
R. Drysdale is a
freelance writer with more than 25 years experience as
a health care professional. She is a contributing
editor to Bad
Breath Cure, a blog dedicated to the treatment of
bad breath.
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