How to tell spouse/significant other he/she has bad breath?

My husband breath stinks so badly that sometimes I think that he has passed gas and it's his breath!!!! (LOL and sadden, first time I've admitted this.) I have hinted that he should go to the dentist, I have gone and all of the kids have gone but he will not. I don't even like kissing him. I told him that when my mouth doesn't feel minty clean, I brush my tongue because and floss. Did he get the message......NO!!!!! How can I tell him his mouth stinks without hurting his pride, self-esteem, our relationship......HOWWWWW?????

Wed. Jun 28, 10:43pm

I told my bf, "Your breath is worse than the cat's breath. It's disgusting. Go to the doctor!" It worked just fine. (He went to the doctor; the doctor pinpointed the problem; cure took about a week; even people at work expressed relief.) Honestly, how sensitive IS your husband?

Thursday, June 29, 2006, 12:01 AM

I too would simply be upfront about it.

"Darling you have halitosis and there are times when it becomes so severe that I don't want to kiss you. I would really appreciate it if you would speak to a physician or dentist about it."

Quite fankly I really can't think of any other way to approach this that doesn't come across as passive-aggressive, however perhaps others will have suggestions.

Thursday, June 29, 2006, 1:06 AM

My god, your married to the man and have kids with him. Just tell him his breath smells and has been and you would really like him to go to the dentist.

Thursday, June 29, 2006, 2:50 AM

I agree! Please, I would want my spouse to tell me I have bad breath, and he has! It spurred me to take action, and I really wanted to know. I've told my husband he needs to wear deodorant, or shower. That's what spouses do for one another.

Thursday, June 29, 2006, 4:56 AM

i agree with the above posters. it's your husband, not a coworker. or wait for the kids to do it! i remember telling my dad he had "chronic halitosis" after the phrasing i heard on a commercial....(ROTFL thinking about me as a 6yr old saying that but anyway....)

Thursday, June 29, 2006, 7:32 AM

My ex had awful bad breath and he could shower and still stink. I told him many times so he went to the dentist and it was still bad. He said there was nothing wrong with his breath. Yeah right! He told me it was me not him. After 25 years of marriage I said the hell with it and left. Don't get me wrong we had alot of bad issues, including his verbal abuse.

My new husband smells great lol. I always ask him if my breath stinks (when I know it does) and he says he can't smell anything. I guess we were made for each other. Guess our hormones concected and it's true love.

Good luck!

Thursday, June 29, 2006, 9:40 AM

My husbands suffers from acid reflux disease which affects his breath. He was good about taking care of it, but it's hard.

Thursday, June 29, 2006, 9:42 AM

I remember when I was a teenager and getting in the car with my older brother. He had such bad breath he could stop traffic. The car stunk so bad that I had to open the window even if it was snowing and blowing out. I told him so many times and he would never do anything about. No wonder he never got any dates. Makes me wonder how he finally did get one and married her. As far as I know to this day he has never been to a dentist. He never smoked or drank coffee. HIs wife told him all the time he had bad breath, I told him guess it's not only me. He would just laugh and walk away. Also told him you ever wonder why your wife doesn't kiss you anymore. Get a clue big brother.

Thursday, June 29, 2006, 9:44 AM

i agree that you need to tell him directly, not beat around the bush on this topic. especially if it is affecting how you feel about being intimate with him-on any level. one can be direct yet not mean. just tell him in the same way you would want to be told...

Thursday, June 29, 2006, 10:25 AM

You can buy him an actual tongue cleaner. Most natural food stores carry them. That should make a HUGE difference. It is much more effective than brushing your tongue. I had a relative with the problem bought them a tongue cleaner and I swear the problem was gone. I don't feel clean if I don't use mine. Good luck. That is so nasty!

Thursday, June 29, 2006, 10:55 AM

sometimes you gotta come flat out and say it! my husbands breath was so bad last night and I simply asked him to floss, brush, and swish before we got into "things"

Thursday, June 29, 2006, 11:38 AM

My fiance and I aren't even married yet, and even when we were just dating, we'd tell each other all the time that the other one needed to brush his/her teeth. Once you open those lines of communication, it's really no big deal. Everyone has stinky breath sometimes. For a more persistent problem, tell him to go get it checked. Then, when it's cured, make sure to *thank* him with tons of kisses!

Thursday, June 29, 2006, 2:35 PM

(OP)

Okay, everyone makes is seem so easy! I am going to try and talk to him about it tonight. I just can't take it anymore. I post and let everyone know what happened.....if I keep up the nerve.

Thursday, June 29, 2006, 5:37 PM

Hey OP were you able to talk to your husband? How did it go?

Friday, June 30, 2006, 3:47 PM

i was just about to ask, too! how did it go?

Friday, June 30, 2006, 3:51 PM

I must be a different sort of breed because I tell people all the time that they need a mint or gum. I have no qualms about telling someone something like that. I once told a guy passing that his fly was down, another person that they had a little snot they should wipe away. You'd be surprised how many people appreciate it when you tell them stuff like that. Hey, wouldn't you want to be told that your breath stunk or you had food in your teeth, or my personally fav that your dress was stuck in your panties. Why wouldn't you want anyone to tell you things that could possibly be embarrassing or things that people don't want to be around you for. Nothing worse then someone invading your space with stinky breath, especially if they are close talkers!

Friday, June 30, 2006, 9:58 PM

bad breath

omg.this sounds like my husbad.......last night he tried to kiss me and i was so overwhelmed by the smell .i basically shut down my face. I've always tried to be as polite as i could but I was nervous as to how he would react. Needless to say we got into an argument the next day and I finally tolod him what was wrong and he was sooooooooo angry. Maybe I should have said something before this blew up in my face.

-not so graceful

Friday, August 20, 2010, 4:04 PM

Hahaha some of these comments have me cracking up.

He's your husband. You should be able to discuss these things - if not.... Send him an anonymous email or facebook message.

Friday, August 20, 2010, 6:11 PM

totally agree with the last comment....if he's your husband/boyfriend you should be able to tell him this without any recourse. If anything he will be glad someone said something...imagine how many people he comes across every day. What kind of relationship is your marriage if you can't tell him his breath stinks?

Saturday, August 21, 2010, 11:50 AM

New bf

Ma bf n i jz started dating n dnt knw how 2 tel him his mouth stinks coz it will hurt him.we only kissed once please help

Link

Tuesday, July 31, 2012, 12:28 PM

Causes

Just a caution, sometimes bad breath can indicate a medical condition. If he uses good oral hygiene, and his breath is, well, extremely bad, it might be wise to schedule a physical. P.S. Call your doctor in advance and let him/her know of your concerns.

Wednesday, August 1, 2012, 11:19 AM

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