Would you tell someone they have bad breath?

tesuhoha

C_Mababejive wrote: »

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.

A lot of old people lose their sense of smell so that they can't smell gas or farts so this may not work.

miss_independent

If it were an immediate family member, a close friend or a lover I would gently say, "right, if I tell you something do you promise not to be offended? I'm only going to tell you because if the shoe was on the other foot, I'd want to know. There's quite a strong odour from your breath."

But no way would I tell a stranger.

chiefgoobster

It's a difficult situation and there's probably no right or wrong answer. I think I'd be inclined to sit somewhere else.

It's a bit like saying to a colleague they have bad B.O.
but that's another topic and not for commenting on this thread.

nickj_2

C_Mababejive wrote: »

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.

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

alternatively you could be a bit more diplomatic , if you see her approaching quickly grab a peg for your nose or put on a gas mask , failing that you could just say hi , and then poke your head out of the little window

Softstuff

loracan1 wrote: »

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

It's funny that I wouldn't mind being told, because I have an explanation. It would make me more self conscious around that person though and likely I'd just avoid being near them.

The worst thing I ever smell on people is B.O and I wouldn't consider telling them at all. I don't know what their medical situation is, perhaps it is something they can't improve. I can imagine few smells I can't live with rather than make a person feel uncomfortable about themselves.

C_Mababejive

tesuhoha wrote: »

A lot of old people lose their sense of smell so that they can't smell gas or farts so this may not work.

I do sympathise. Often times after a hard days graft, i come home and am decidedly whiffy but am blissfully unaware of it. Being MSE i only bathe a couple of times a week.

krlyr

If she otherwise looks after herself she may not be able to do anything about it. I suffered chronic sinusitis and when I wad suffering from an infection my breath would often be bad but all I could do wash brush in the hope it masked the smell, and wait for the infection to clear up. My mum suffers from the same thing with her sinusitis, and while we might warn each other so that we could try to avoid breathing smelly breath on anyone, I don't think I'd tell a old lady acquaintance on the bus. Perhaps something to mention if you were to form a closer friendship though?

pearl123

It's an elderly lady with bad breath. Is is really so surprising that her breath is bad. Elderly people do no necessarily have the healthest bodies. Many health conditions could cause bad breath including diabetes. Either avoid her or put up with it.
I think it would be very rude in this instance to mention it to her.

LouiseWright

I know someone who has tonsil stones, this is where bacteria and food gets stuck in the tonsils and give you foul breath, even if you've only just cleaned your teeth. His breath is awful and he's constantly sticking on mints. The only thing that can be done is to have his tonsils out, but his doctor won't agree to it. He says tonsil stones are quite common. I wouldn't say anything to her.

yvonne13_2

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?

You can chew the minty gum that way you should be able to smell that.