How Should You Tell A Friend He or She Has Bad Breath?

Everyone knows what it’s like to have bad breath, but having to deal with someone else’s can be the absolute worst. Telling anyone they have stinky breath is often embarrassing for both parties involved and just downright awkward. Bad breath can come from eating strong food such as onions, garlic, or perhaps just too much coffee that day. What do you do, however, when this bad breath becomes a chronic occurrence? Many who suffer from halitosis, or chronic bad breath, have entirely given up on a solution. Just because mint-juice and alcohol-based rinses are ineffective, doesn’t mean that no real solution exists!

Don’t assume that everyone with chronic bad breath is suffering due to lack of oral hygiene. Many with halitosis brush regularly and visit their dentist every 6 months. Some cases of halitosis are due to health-related problems, including liver problems and diabetes. The first step to helping a friend, coworker, or a loved one overcome their bad breath is to drop subtle hints. Some choose to offer gum as a helpful hint. However, gum is not actually a solution for bad breath. It will briefly give the user a minty mask then quickly return to full-on bad breath. Unfortunately, if the person doesn’t take the hint by now then they probably won’t get it on their own. This is where things could start to get a bit uncomfortable.

How to tell someone they have bad breath:

Pull them aside and make sure nobody else can hear
Be gentle, but still direct
Use phrases like “I noticed” or “I had this problem too”
Be relatable to help reduce the embarrassment
Suggest oral health care products that are clinically proven to eliminate and prevent bad breath, such as SmartMouth’s Single Packs.

It’s possible to confront a friend or partner about their problem without being offensive. He or she may be slightly embarrassed at first, but he or she will be very thankful in the long run. Bad breath may be an embarrassing problem, but there’s no reason not to break the news gently and respectfully.

Have you ever told anyone they have bad breath?

We surveyed 741 people and found that, of those who HAD told someone they have bad breath, respondents were more likely to tell family member than a friend or coworker. 40% had told a family member that they had bad breath. Only 24% had told an SO they had bad breath. We know how difficult this might be, but no one WANTS bad breath. SmartMouth is available online and at most large retailers who sell oral care products. Do your friends and family a favor, share some SmartMouth with them.