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How do I Tell Someone They Have Bad Breath?

We have all been around that person who has bad breath and they don't realize it. That's because the odor-detecting cells in the nose eventually become accustomed to the constant flow of bad smells from the mouth. So, how do you tell that person without embarrassing them? Take our quiz and see how good you are at breaking the bad breath news.
  1. The guy/girl you have been flirting with at work starts up a conversation in the lunch room.  You notice as the conversation is progressing that this person has bad breath.  What do you do?
    2. You tell your office crush that you have a lot of work to do and sprint back to your desk.
    You say nothing and politely turn your head as the person speaks.
    You talk about what you had for lunch, apologizing that you might have bad breath. Then you put a mint in your mouth and offer one to your flame as well.
  2. While retrieving your mail, you smell the heated onion breath of your next door neighbor as he/she opens their mailbox next to yours. Do you …
    3. Shrink back in horror, crinkle your face up and make an "ewww" sound?
    Get your mail as quickly as possible so you can get away?
    Try to have a short conversation while staying as far back from your neighbor as possible?
  3. You are out shopping with a close friend for the day and you notice that when you stop to check out a pair of shoes on the sale rack that your friend has a dreadful case of bad breath. What do you say?
    4. You say, "Wow, your breath is rank!"
    You say, "Have you been eating garlic lately?"
    You say, "Would you like a stick of gum or a drink? I’m feeling parched."
  4. You have noticed that one of your co-workers you work closely with every day has chronic bad breath. You can't stand it anymore but you really like this person and don't want to hurt their feelings. What do you do?
    5. You tell everyone else in the office and start gossiping about your co-workers bad oral hygiene.
    You leave a toothbrush, toothpaste and a post-it note on their desk that says, "FYI – you have bad breath.  Signed, a friend."
    You send them a kind anonymous email, letter or note that starts out by saying, "a friend is concerned about a problem you have and wants to help you.  The problem you have is called halitosis."  The email, letter or note then points your co-worker to a website where they can get information and products to cure bad breath.
  5. After a family dinner with your elderly parents, you notice that your Mom has really bad breath.  What do you say?
    6. "Mom, you need to go brush your teeth."
    "Mom, I think that salad dressing had a little too much garlic in it.  I can smell it on your breath."
    "Mom, the dinner was lovely but you might want to keep some after dinner mints on hand in the future for that after dinner breath that we all have."
  6. You are at a dinner party and you notice that your spouse has really bad breath and purple teeth from that glass of red wine he/she just had.  You whisper …?
    7. "Honey, let’s go home.  You have embarrassed me enough."
    "Honey, your breath stinks and your teeth are purple. You need some water now."
    "Honey, I hate to tell you this but the wine has stained your teeth and your breath isn’t all that fresh.  A quick rinse with some water in the bathroom and a mint should help."
Visit the Colgate Oral Care Resource Center to read about the causes and treatments of Bad Breath and to discover proudcts specifically for you.
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