Bad breath

I noticed my best male friend’s bad breath on our recent meet up and I intend to give him a peppermint and tell him next time I see him if it’s the same👍

Mouthwash will only mask the problem and not solve it.

I would strongly suggest flossing, know if I haven't done for a day or two not very nice smell when floss released and notice how much food get stuck in between your teeth. Then a good brush after, have used a tongue scraper in the past but find it painful. Ultra Dex toothpaste is excellent for breath problems, rather expensive but worth it to save embarrassment.

Dentist is a good start. Does he go?
Even some adults are frightened of the dentist. If it’s a dentist you have been going to a long time, I would have a word with dentist/ hygienist & tell them your feelings, I am sure they will soon tell him.
It could be simply a filling he needs, or gum disease. Worse than that, could be blocked saliva gland, or even a problem with his stomach.

The truth is I’m a really quiet person who hates confrontations, we all have our issues!
I’m going to get some mouth wash and see if he takes the hint!
Thank you all so much you have helped me. X

“He gets really angry if I say the smallest thing about him to him, even if I’m trying to help”

Could it be that he’s not that bothered about his oral hygiene and having stinky breath but thinks, as you’re his wife, you shouldn’t mind?

There are several reasons why breath smells and let’s face it, we’ve all had bad breath at some point; either from that spicy curry last night, raw onion on that salad at lunchtime, food caught between the teeth that’s often difficult to remove or it could be something else not resolved by an extra attempt at brushing, flossing and mouthwash.

Pull on your big girl pants and tell him that if you notice his foul breath then others will too. Suggest an appointment with his dental hygienist as a starting point. If that doesn’t help then he needs to see his GP as there’s obviously something else causing his halitosis.

Be brave OP.

Willow you can have pages of advice and possible reasons and guesses but there is only one way and you know it. It’s not nice for either of you but you just have to say it and accept the aftermath Good luck

I'm wishing you very good luck in telling him Wyllow !
Past experiences have made me cautious in criticising the male sex in general.
Most of them can't take it.
A casual comment in my house has resulted in broken furniture .

Is this bad breath recent ?
It could be as simple as a tiny fragment of meat caught in his teeth .
I suggest that you change the toothbrushes and make sure that there's a good mouthwash and floss in the bathroom.
If it's not a simple case of improving dental hygiene there could be so many other causes .
Is he a mouth breather?
Does he smoke ?
Drink a great deal of coffee ?
Eat a lot of smelly foods?
He might have post nasal drip .
Or some gastro intestinal problems.
It can indicate more serious complication .
Only your GP can diagnose the cause.

Can be a sign of diabetes or kidney disease amongst other things, so tell him you're worried about his health, get him to see a doctor and a dentist.

Maybe take the pressure off by making it about both of you and pick up a tongue scraper or decent mouthwash for the bathroom, then say you’re trying it too. If he still gets defensive, framing it as a quick dental check-up for you both can feel less personal but still gets the point across.

Not necessarily a dental problem either- could be a digestive or even a sinus one.

Is he drinking enough water?

Ask him if he's feeling well for a starter?

I get some other people to do some things for me!

Thank you for all your kind comments. I know I’ll just have to bite the bullet!

I'm not suggesting for one minute that you have bad breath, body odour or smelly feet for example, but if you did, would he say something? If he is inclined to point things out if he finds something about you annoying/repulsive, then he shouldn't get angry when you do the same. Does anyone else say anything to him about it? Do you have a family member who could point it out when near him?

My wife and I have an agreement that we tell each other if there's a bit of a wiff, as it's better that we say something and correct it, as opposed to other people cringing and commenting. Maybe you could suggest this as it would let him feel he could say something too, therefore feeling equal and included.

Assuming he cleans his teeth regularly, and doesn't eat food that will cause bad breath, there may well be a medical reason for it. Might be worth looking into.

Make a dental appointment for him. Does he sleep with his mouth open? Also, buy a tongue scraper.

Would suggest you both go for dental appointments, just say to him you feel it is high time and you’ve been wanting to go for a while. If he still has his own teeth there could be problems that need to be addressed. If he doesn’t have his own teeth you will have to bite the bullet I’m afraid. He could get annoyed but he’ll get over it.

There’s no easy way to do it, you just have to bite the bullet and tell him.Say that you hope he would tell you if things were reversed and buy a good mouthwash for the both of you.
Say it’s a common thing for older people ( I don’t know if it is or not) and that dentists recommend mouthwash.
Buy one that def does help with bad breath.