Would you tell someone they have bad breath?

victory

Saturnalia wrote: »

Take up eating mints and offer her one.

I did and she said she does not eat mints so said no and also minty gum and she said no thanks

victory

Carl31 wrote: »

Personally, I would rather know if I had bad breath rather than people commenting being my back, I tell those closest to tell me if I smell. I appreciate not everyone would share this view

To the op, can you get another bus?

No, the same bus is just coincidence, I get on one to go into town or to the docs etc and the lady may or not be on that one, as I say we don't meet up or particularly know each other, for all I know she could be looking out for me, looking forward to seeing me, she may live alone and I am the only person she talks to in the day, I might in her eyes brighten up her day, that is why I am trying to find a solution walking on egg shells because it really is breath takingly bad and say she wants to progress the acquaintance the odd chance bus meeting chit chat to going for a coffee?

softstuff I have no idea of her medical history of if it is unavoidable, I know that maybe as meritan pointed out to find a seat next to someone so the lady cannot sit next to me if she is on the bus but what a shame.

marisco_2

Sometimes you just have to be blunt. I would far prefer people were honest with me if they felt there was a problem, than to leave me inflicting something unpleasant on them. You could quietly ask her if she has eaten something really spicy. If she asks why or says no you could then say 'oh right, I only ask because your breath doesn't smell very pleasant'. That is not rude, it is a fact. She will either thank you and sort it out or look annoyed and move away.

I couldn't just sit there and suffer as things like smelling bad breath actually makes me want to reach. Better that I raise the fact there is an issue than throw up over someone

SailorSam

I think if it was me with bad breath i'd want someone to tell me, i'm sure i'd be embarrassed when they did but if it gave me the opportunity to save further embarrassment i's accept the comment. Having said that i have worked with someone with terrible breath and none of us would tell him.

marisco_2

*max* wrote: »

Nothing. I for one am not into humiliating old ladies I barely know. Or even the ones I do know, mind.

It is quite clear from victorys post that she is trying very hard to find a considerate way to broach this situation.

It is interesting how you claim to not be into humiliating people you barely know. Yet you have no problem at all in trying to undermine a persons thread on an anonymous forum.

jess1974

I would'nt tell her, i'm not saying people who would are right or wrong, but i just could'nt tell someone something like that, knowing that it would offend and hurt them, i always take the cowards way out......

System

My husband and grown up children yes, unless my children have partners then i'd leave it up to their partners to say something.

Anyone else? No!

getmore4less

tell her, the worst that can happen is she does nothing and stays sitting next to you.

http://www.patient.co.uk/health/bad-breath-halitosis

loracan1

If, like the poster in #8, she has an unavoidable issue I don't think she'd appreciate it being mentioned.

patchwork_cat

You could turn the talk around to dentists, may not tell her, but might find that she can't find a dentist and you could perhaps assist.