Annoyed

Does he go to the dentist and hygienist?

I say this because a dd once had a temp job at a very high end estate agency, where one of the most senior staff had really appalling breath. Apparently it would make you recoil even from across a desk. Obviously not good in a client-facing role.

Turned out she hadn’t been to a dentist or hygienist for years. After she was eventually persuaded to go, the other staff were amazed to see ‘new’ gaps between her teeth - they had previously been filled with hardened plaque!
End of bad breath problem, though.

May be other people have said something to him and he now realises that it is not just his poor wife being fussy.

maybe he has a blocked nose. my niece had this ,we found out (she pushed tissue up her nose,) and her breath was appalling for over a year. maybe a trip to the doctors to see whats causing the bad breath......

Possibly someone else he’s met or got his eye on.

Last year I noticed my husbands breath was literally stinking and really offensive. I mentioned it to him and he was surprised. He upped his oral routine with stronger mouthwash extra brushing etc. He was fine in health so we thought, but by the following weekend he was in hospital, it turned out he had diverticulitis, cysts on his kidneys and pancreas and was really quite poorly. He’s always had a “dodgy tummy” something could trigger a bout of the runs but we never thought too much about it. [his mum was the same he said].
I would advise your husband go to GP and get some tests done. My husband has been much better since but neither of us realised how ill he was and it all started with dreadfully bad breath!

I'm shocked that someone wouldn't want to clean their teeth in 20 years.

Just wondering has he oral thrush at all as this does smell. Sorry if someone has mentioned this I just read this quickly and posted as I’m going out. Electric toothbrush, dental brushes really help. It’s amazing with the dental brushes what food is in between teeth. Mouthwash masks things. Could be his nose too i.e, catarrh, I’m blunt with my husband I told him he got an electric brush and gets them cleaned. I’m sorry if this doesn’t help some are so stubborn,

I rather like Narelle's advice. As a matter of interest, has the teeth cleaning actually improved the bad breath smell?

My late husband (recently) never cleaned his teeth in over 20 years even though I refused to kiss him or allow him to breathe on me. He never seemed to have bad breath though teeth were decaying and actually falling out. Even dentist could not get through to him to clean his teeth. I just gave up asking and probably in reality gave up on the marriage.
The fact that your hubby has started to make an effort is great - reward him with some TLC - just like you would a child as this is reinforcing good behaviour.

Narnia I’m pleased that I didn’t misunderstand, but I’m sorry that there is still a problem. I really think that a sit down and a straight talk with your husband is urgently needed, at least then you will know what to do and indeed if there is a problem.
I hope it all turns out ok.

Oopsadaisy3, you are correct x

Bad breath can be caused by many things but your husband’s bad breath sounds very severe. He needs to visit his GP and his dentist. We see the hygienist and dentist every six months; and took their advice to use an electric toothbrush twice daily but preferably three. Advised to brush for two minutes each time, we were also taught how to brush efficiently. Hope his bad breath problem can be resolved soon

Give him chewing gum to chew. It works a treat. Also I suggest he clean his tongue. Hygiene is also important.

I had the same problem some 20 years ago. I sought help from my dentist, my GP and ultimately an ENT specialist. It was he who sent me for an ultra sound test of my abdomen as so far nothing seemed to cure the problem.

Thanks to the ultra sound test I had an operation for bowel cancer some 5 weeks later and the problem disappeared.

In my view he should get medical advice urgently.

I must have read this post all wrong .

OP says that he has started to clean his teeth again, presumably the problem is now fixed and she is wondering why , now they are in separate bedrooms, has he started to clean his teeth?

Try using Ultradex. It’s a daily oral rinse for bad breath developed and recommended by dental professionals. It certainly works for my husband. You can buy it in Boots. It is expensive, but very good. Good luck.

! I recognise your problem, you have a husband like mine who will NOT, on a point of principal, follow any suggestion or advice I give him. He may (just may) take notice of another family member or a friend, or even a stranger, but if you suggest it he'll dig his heels in and will dismiss it.
Does your surgery run an 'Ask My Doctor' service? If so you could speak to your GP over the phone on your husband's behalf, and see if you can get him to call your hubby in for a 'checkup' and let him take it from there.
I cannot get mine to attend an optician for his diabetic eye tests, he prefers to buy £5 reading glasses from the market.
Its the little boy "I will NOT be ruled by a WOMAN" syndrome. aka NBRBW

Neither can I Joesoap

I think his problem could be tonsil stones. This happens when the tonsils have large holes or crypts in them allowing food debris to become lodged deep inside the tonsil where it breaks down and creates a really distinctive fetid smell. The only treatment is removal of the tonsils and sadly this is unlikely to be performed on an adult due to the complications of bleeding. You can find lots of information online under tonsil stones, or Tonsililoths. It’s a horrible condition, and very upsetting for the person suffering, once they realise they have the condition. Toothbrushing and mouthwash unfortunately make no difference. Ask your GP for referral to an ENT surgeon.

Several conditions can cause bad breath, sometimes in combination. Since he hasn't brushed or flossed regularly until only recently, he could be suffering from advanced periodontal gum disease which can also form abscesses within the gums and/or teeth.

Stones often form behind the tonsils from repeated sinus/throat infections that have a terrible smell. Kidney disease, stomach problems and dietary issues can also cause very bad breath.

He should see a dentist first, followed by a visit to the GP...and the sooner the better for his sake as well as yours.

There could be many reasons why he has halitosis. It could be a dental problem, it could be one of a few medical issues.
I would suggest a dentist and hygienist and a trip to the GP. No one can diagnose on here.
As to why he's now suddenly cleaning his teeth at night - maybe he wants to be back in the marital bed and is finally making an effort as previously asked to do so. He needed a wake-up call.

I think he may have actually been worried that something is wrong with him and did the classic head in sand that unfortunately quite a lot of men do in such situations. He may now be trying to solve the problem by brushing etc, still fearful of what the actual cause is, yet possibly still reluctant to admit the possibility of something more serious existing. He sounds frustrating! However, if you have the will to get your relationship back on track with him, you may have to encourage him, much as one would a reluctant child, to go and seek advice from both GP and dentist. My brother has a phobia of both, so with great gaps in his teeth and obvious health problems he avoids visiting anyone who may help. At least I don't have to live with him... Such phobias and certainly the fear of the unknown is not uncommon, especially among men.

I cant imagine anyone going to bed without cleaning their teeth, imagine the bacteria building up during the night!He needs to see a Dentist and Doctor as soon as possible before other things set in, for instance heart disease.
I feel sorry for the people around him at work having to put up with that.Imagine if he is in the health service and having near contact with ill people, that would be awful.

My other half had bad breath and also smokes.
He brushes his teeth, but only for a few seconds at night.
Not enough.
He can’t afford dentists fees, which is a shame.
I think that’s what puts people of going to see dentists.

If his breath is this bad there is more afoot.
Please please have him see a doctor ASAP