Is it possible to tell someone they have bad breath without being offensive?
Today is National Fresh Breath Day; perhaps it is a now-or-never type of approach...
Today is National Fresh Breath Day, a day that is applauded by Dentists and Oral Healthcare Professionals for the fight against bad breath. Bad breath might be the cardinal enemy of Oral Healthcare Professionals.
Have you ever heard people say that in the morning, you brush your teeth for everyone, and at night, you brush them for yourself? Well, that saying encourages good oral hygiene habits.
Poor dental care will eventually cause mouth odour or bad breath, but it is important to note that it isn't just the foods we choose to eat that contribute to bad breath; bad breath could also be a sign of a medical condition.
We came across a story on Reddit where a person asked for some solid advice regarding a colleague.
"How can you politely let a colleague know that they have a horrible breath without offending them?"
People were happy to share their answers; one admitted they got called into HR.
"I got told by HR years ago, lol, I stopped smoking cigarettes, and it improved dramatically."
It might sound funny at first, but this is a serious topic. People who work in teams have to be able to work with one another under close circumstances. Being open and honest isn't always received well, and it can cause problems in the workplace.
If you are experiencing this with a friend or colleague, here are some ideas from Reddit.
- "I'm bored. Let's go brush our teeth!"
- "In my old job a manager had to pull him into a meeting and tell him about his poor personal hygiene, so ask someone more senior to do it."
- "We had a similar thing in my old job. A girl would always come in smelly but look presentable, and the office would reek. Our manager took her aside and spoke to her about it."
Seeing a comment from someone who knew they had bad breath was enlightening.
"I have terrible breath all the time (mainly stemming from poor oral hygiene regiments), and I regularly ask others to tell me immediately if they can smell my breath. I will never take it as an insult because I know it’s much worse for everyone else. I see it in the same way that you would tell someone their fly is down or that they have food in their teeth. You're giving them information that will help them (assuming you aren’t saying, “Eww.. you’re gross”)." (Reddit)
So, in short, we guess it can be offensive. Therefore, it is best to approach it with some sensitivity and be prepared for anything.
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