catchthedrift Posted March 16, 2015 Posted March 16, 2015 What if the person you are dating has bad breath? Say you have already fallen in love with them and after a while you realize that the bad breath is a continuous problem? Do you tell them bluntly?
Hopeful30 Posted March 16, 2015 Posted March 16, 2015 I've dated a man like this. Chronic bad breath is often a result of extreme anxiety that manifests itself in some strange way, and thus throws off the inner balance and so there is more bacteria blablabla in short, the breath is always bad. It's a huge turn off for me, but I never told him because I knew how insecure he would feel about it. I would either slip him something sweet (or a mint) if I had the intention of kissing him, or I wouldn't kiss him at all (to be honest that wasn't a problem because he wasn't affectionate at all to begin with.) This is a tricky problem though. I wouldn't say anything unless he asked. Men are usually always insecure about things like that and I would imagine saying something would only hurt his ego. After all, even if you tell him, his breath won't change if it's chronic, so you'll only make him feel more self-conscious about it.
Gary S Posted March 16, 2015 Posted March 16, 2015 So get some mints, breath spray, or Chlorophyll.... when you take it, offer it to him. That peer-pressure thing has to be good for something
LostOnes05 Posted March 16, 2015 Posted March 16, 2015 I laughed out loud at "men are usually always insecure about things like that". Definitely tell him. I'm a guy and I would rather someone be honest with me and tell me my breath was bad so I could take measures to fix it. It's kinda like walking around with a booger in your nose all day, not knowing it's there. Everyone else can see it but you. Now what is more embarrassing, someone saying you have a huge booger in your nose or it flying out on someone you are talking to? Just be honest with him, especially if you say you love him. At least, I'd want to know. 2
Michelle ma Belle Posted March 16, 2015 Posted March 16, 2015 I've been here before. If you care about him and are in a LTR you need to practice honesty. He likely has no idea his breath is as bad as it is. A few minutes of awkwardness may mean the difference between a peck on the lips and a smokin' hot make-out session! I don't know about you but I'd be willing to take the gamble 3
badpenny Posted March 16, 2015 Posted March 16, 2015 Talk to him about it, and suggest a tongue-scraper. many toothbrushes have built-in ones, but they're essential. The tongue actually clings to more bacterial smelly rubbish than the teeth and gums do. Anything smelly is usually on the tongue, and that's the culprit, far more than the gnashers.... However, most people have no idea about that. So discussing it with him will open up a whole new avenue of communication, possibly hitherto-unknown stuff, and get him to clean his mouth too!
soyou Posted March 16, 2015 Posted March 16, 2015 I've been therefore. Lucky, it was just a casual hookup so the moment I found out that his breath was unbreable, I then immediately excused myself from having sex with him. I told him nicely that his breath stinked. He laughed and appreciated my honesty. I was glad that he could take it lightly! 1
Redhead14 Posted March 16, 2015 Posted March 16, 2015 What if the person you are dating has bad breath? Say you have already fallen in love with them and after a while you realize that the bad breath is a continuous problem? Do you tell them bluntly? If you are being intimate with someone, you can address issues upfront. It's not what you say, it's about how you say it. Don't say, "hey, your breath is atrocious". Say something like "I noticed a problem and wasn't sure if you're aware of it. You're breath is a little off putting and I'm wondering if you're ok because sometimes that's an indicator of another problem". I don't want you to be embarrassed, I want to help. If they weren't aware of it, then you can say "I have that problem too sometimes, and this is what I do for it". Approach in a supportive way.
Mrin Posted March 16, 2015 Posted March 16, 2015 Tell them. And if it is chronic there are medications and supplements to help!
acrosstheuniverse Posted March 16, 2015 Posted March 16, 2015 I have stopped dating people before for this, some people are just totally oblivious, even when you're regularly hinting offering them gum, asking them if 'they're all ready for bed' i.e have they brushed their teeth, with one guy the first day he slept over it wasn't too bad but the second was utterly awful, I had to mostly insist he spooned me when we were snuggled up and stuff, I remember him asking me after the visit why I'd seemed so cold and distant the second day with my body language and I just couldn't bring myself to tell him his breath was terrible, I just couldn't. If I realllllly liked someone I would have to be honest I guess but from my experience it's such a huge turn off it's hard to come back from that. I don't mean the usual bad breath from a certain food, or from dehydration, or in the morning, I'm talking just generally every day. It astounds me how people are just so unaware of their own breath, I'm always aware of mine and even though I'm sure it's fine I avoid breathing on people close up most of the time just in case, whereas some people even when you're snuggled up face to face they're still mouth breathing!
kux Posted March 16, 2015 Posted March 16, 2015 So get some mints, breath spray, or Chlorophyll.... when you take it, offer it to him. That peer-pressure thing has to be good for something this is what she should do, but it's not going to occur. she will break up and not tell him why, in order not to hurt him. lol.
Gary S Posted March 16, 2015 Posted March 16, 2015 A thread about bad breath from catchthedrift - I just noticed this 1
Maxtor Posted March 16, 2015 Posted March 16, 2015 Tell him. I always do tell girls, and even friends if they have bad breath, because if they know the problem, they can try to fix it. If they dont even know, how can they fix it? 1
badpenny Posted March 16, 2015 Posted March 16, 2015 OR.... start by telling him how a previous date was so obnoxious because his groin area stank, and he always had a wet patch. That went nowhere! Telling him his breath is a bit pungent will then pale by comparison....
Author catchthedrift Posted March 19, 2015 Author Posted March 19, 2015 A thread about bad breath from catchthedrift - I just noticed this I know, right? Hilarious...
JohnsonBaby Posted March 19, 2015 Posted March 19, 2015 This is one of the things that completely turn me off about people ,if your breath stinks I automatically assume you stink everywhere else. I would never have a second date with the guy . It's a huge turn off .
preraph Posted March 20, 2015 Posted March 20, 2015 It's difficult. If you could stand it until you knew them well enough, then you could bring it up. Not everyone takes criticism well, though. So poke mints at them and prompt them to brush their teeth before bed. Say "Did you brush your teeth? I brushed my teeth. If you don't brush yours, it'll taste bad." I have a friend with chronically stale breath, and I don't know why that is, but as soon as she gets in the car, there it is. I pull out the mints. The first time I offered her one, she refused. I said, "You do know you're always supposed to accept a mint when someone offers, don't you?" So now she just takes it and doesn't say anything. I'm pretty sure I have bad breath because of constant sinus trouble, so I try to pop mints if I'm going to be close to someone. But what's alarming is sometimes you can smell bad breath if you're just in the vicinity. People who take vitamins regularly get bad breath.
travelbug1996 Posted March 20, 2015 Posted March 20, 2015 There's a product called 'smart mouth' and keeps the breath fresh for 12 hours. You have to be honest. You'll both be happy.
carhill Posted March 20, 2015 Posted March 20, 2015 What if the person you are dating has bad breath? Say you have already fallen in love with them and after a while you realize that the bad breath is a continuous problem? Do you tell them bluntly? Well, I actually had this happen when dating a young lady and, TBH, I had experienced such bad outcomes with women prior that I didn't say anything. Much later, when my exW and I were dating, she spent Thanksgiving with us and, in a 'true confessions' moment, I shared with her about that period and, in perfect English (she's Ukrainian) she asked me 'Why didn't you tell me?". I had no good answer for that! In my mind, at the time, during the period we were dating, I was thinking I was 6000 miles from home in a strange place and I didn't really want a woman pissed at me for commenting on her breath. Dumb, I know, but dating (other women) had been pretty brutal up to that point and irrationality crept in. During our M, exW and I both had our moments, mainly from sinus infections and drainage, and we both would be prone to saying 'whoa, breath isn't doing so hot today' or something similar. That worked for us because we were both on the same page regarding such matters. There was no offense, simply communication. None of us are perfect.
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