It is horrible for an individual to be in a close conversation with someone and become suddenly aware that the person they are talking to has horrible smelling breath. It can almost make someone feel nauseous to continue
the conversation and it is almost impossible not to make a facial expression that communicates disgust.
the conversation and it is almost impossible not to make a facial expression that communicates disgust.
The awful odor elicits almost involuntary responses. This is a very difficult situation to deal with and people would want to simply get away from the offensive odor as quickly as possible. Bad breath is especially difficult to deal with but it is important that it is eliminated on all levels.
Personal Responsibility
So what is the best way of dealing with this problem? First of all, everyone has a responsibility to take good care of their teeth and cultivate good oral hygiene habits that will help prevent bad breath. It is common courtesy to make sure that others do not have to suffer with one’s laziness as far as personal oral care is concerned. Those aware that they have a problem with foul breath should recognize that and take care of the problem to the best of their ability. If all attempts to deal with this problem on a personal leve fails, then they should seek professional help from a qualified dentist or hygenist.
When someone has to speak or deal with another person who has bad breath, it is important to address the situation rather than get away from it. On occasions, the root cause of the problem might be medical but the individual may be completely unaware of the bad odor emanating from their mouth. Politely telling the person who has bad breath can be the begining of the solution to the problem even though this may be a difficult conversation to initiate.
One easy way to address the situation is to offer the person a piece of gum or a mint and gently tell them that they may need to see a physician to discover what their problem is. Or a person can bring up the subject of bad breath and talk about its seriousness and then offer the mint or gum. Whichever way, tack and courtesy must be exercised in order to minimize embarrassment. Some people will require a very direct statement telling them they have bad breath and need to do something about it. All though this is a be very difficult, its nonetheless the right thing to do.
