Would you tell someone they have bad breath?

balletshoes

marisco wrote: »

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

would you really say something like that to someone you barely know and only see co-incidentally? I have to say I wouldn't, I'd consider it rude to do so as well, and I wouldn't want to upset her.

I might say something like that to someone I consider a very close friend or colleague, but not someone who randomly comes to sit beside me on the bus and who I don't want to offend.

marisco_2

They appear to know each other well enough for this other person to want to invite victory to go for coffee. Its not a random person who has sat next to victory once on a bus. My advice gives a valid reason for why the persons breath may smell. Spicy food can make your breath smell unpleasant.

Nicki

I wouldn't say anything myself. I just couldn't as I think whatever you say would be really really upsetting for her to hear. Sorry.

If you ABSOLUTELY MUST say something (and I think you should think very very carefully before you do, because if you really are the only person she speaks to all day and that is what you tell her :eek:) then maybe say something along the lines of: "I am sorry, I don't want to intrude but I'm a bit worried that you might have a little dental infection and I wondered if you'd had it checked out. I only mention it because I caught a hint of the same smell from you I had when I had one last year, and it got really painful when I didn't get it seen in time" But as I say, I personally wouldn't.

ruby-roo_2

It is a difficult one. Sometimes people have bad breath due to medical problems. Others have bad breath due to poor hygiene. I saw you mentioned that in all other ways she is well presented. If you dont feel able to raise this delicate subject with her then try to sit next to someone else when boarding the bus. If you see her you can always acknowledge her and say hello still. This way you remain friendly but are not effected by her bad breath.

make_me_wise

victory wrote: »

I do breath in and out at appropiate times, I would not wish to offend equally I would rather not sit next to her:o

If her breath smells so bad that you have to stagger your breathing to be around her, then I am amazed that she would not be aware of it. Maybe she has a medical condition that causes it, she may have an infection or she could just have really bad hygiene. If you dont feel able to say anything to her then try to ensure you sit next to someone else.

C_Mababejive

victory wrote: »

I get on the same bus as an elderly lady. We have gone from a hello, smile to chit chat on different seats to now the elderly lady comes to sit next to me, her breath makes you pull back, I have offered mints which she said she does not eat, minty gum the same.


I really don't want to be rude, the lady takes care of her appearance, she obviously does not know and I don't want to be the one to tell her, how can I? Not my business .I barely know her but now really hope she is not on the same bus wanting to come and sit next to me:o ;

What to do?

Adopt a sprout diet and fart raucously in her presence so that she knows what its like. If she complains,tell her her gnashers need sorting as she has dog breath.

C_Mababejive

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?

I agree. What about if it were a potential partner/lover?

SailorSam

Perhaps the answer is to find out where the lady lives and then print this thread off and push it through her letterbox.

Teeniepops

I work with a bloke who has smelly breath and try to maintain a distance (especially early on) when taking to him. He occasionally comes up behind me to say something quietly and I get breath ambushed.

Personally, I'd rather know as others have said in earlier posts. However, I can't tell others as I'm too scared of upsetting them/embarrassing them. If you don't know her that well you can't tell her, you could slowly distance yourself whilst still being polite. A wave and hello from a different seat. Or read a book.

Bad breath is one of those weird unknown social situations that nobody wants to suffer - either being one not knowing they smell or being the one thinking it about another.

Let's blame the lack of NHS dentists

mrcow

Some people don't like mints.

Get yourself a packet of werthers originals. Anything that she can suck on will help.