Ask Miss Jia: How to be POLITE About Bad Breath
Dear Miss Jia,
I really love your site! I have been following you for a couple years now, first through Youtube. I think that everyone loves your realness and hopefully you can provide me with some realness on this issue.
I have a guy friend who I have known for years. He’s smart, cute, dresses well, and is successful. The only problem is his breath. Jia, it is ridiculous. I can smell it when he closes his mouth. One day, we were hanging out and stopped to get lunch. I got a bottled drink and he was waiting for the serviceman to bring him some coffee. While we were waiting, he picked up my bottle and took a sip of my drink. Aside from hating to drink after people (backwash grosses me out), when he put the bottle down, no lie, I could smell his breath on my drink!
Jia I don’t know what to do. I know that you would hurt this guys feelings but seriously, I really want him to go to a doctor and get this checked out. His breath is killing me softly and I don’t think I have much life left.
Signed,
Sickadissh*t
Girl, it sounds like you’re in a funky situation. I definitely feel for you though because I oftentimes wonder if there is a polite way to tell someone that their breath is not as happy as it should be. You can offer gum but that only works for a hot second. And what sucks are the people who NEVER want to take the dayum gum! They’re like “No thanks,” and you go, “Are you sure? Like really sure?” So annoying! As impersonal as it may sound, I’d send him a quick email where you basically start off by telling him that you value your friendship with him but as a friend, you were a bit concerned about breath issues. To be honest, I don’t know that there is a really polite way to tell someone their breath is hot. But at least through email, you wouldn’t have to smell his response! 
All jokes aside, another option you can try is this site called Send Anonymous Email that you could try using. OR you could use this website Private Critic, which allows you to choose from several subjects and send out an anonymous email.
Either or, I wish you luck!
February 8th, 2010 at 2:34 pm
He may have halitosis or some type of bacteria in his mouth he needs to have checked out. If you are truly his friend, you would tell him. Simply say, "Tyrone, your breath has a little odor to it. I notice sometimes it is stronger than others. Have you thought about going to a dentist and telling him your concerns?" If he takes your advice, great. If he doesn't and drops you, you won't have to smell his breath anymore. Win-win.
February 8th, 2010 at 9:41 am
LMAO,LMAO,LMAO @ this letter. If he’s your friend you should just tell him. I mean it may hurt his feelings, but if he finds out that you thought his breath stunk and you didn’t tell him his feelings will probably be even more hurt. Just sayin….
February 8th, 2010 at 9:53 am
I’m in the same boat as well, I don’t know what to do as well. I asked him when his insurance kicks in, so he can go to the dentist, but he said that it didn’t kick in as of yet. He has the same characteristics as the guy she described in the letter above. He actually comes to my job from time to time, which I don’t mind. Ppl say we actually look good together. BUT HIS BREATH! Like Ed Lover says, “Com’on Son!” I know that heat rises, but the heat of his breath just seeks lower into my face. I make sure we stand a GREAT distance apart! But he tends to just come closer every time. Like Miss Jia says, the mint you give them only last for a “hot second!” And the second is HOT! I think I’ll try the anonymous e-mail, but the bad part is that I don’t have his e-mail! I do have his phone #. Is there a site for anonymous texting? Because I NEED that! HE NEEDS A REALITY CHECK.
February 8th, 2010 at 3:11 pm
lol @ win-win. You ain't right lmao
February 8th, 2010 at 3:33 pm
Perfect pic for post lol.
February 8th, 2010 at 4:34 pm
omg. THIS kilt me DEAD!!!!
I have a friend with the same infliction…. Her breath ALWAYS precedes her. Out of my entire "group" of friends, none of us knew how to tell her because she ALWAYS got extra offended. We were horrible. It became a running joke for years.
If one of us was talking to her, we would do things like randomly cross our eyes, etc. so that WE knew what we were doing, but she didn't. She'd always be like, "what's so funny." lmao…
Finally one of us told her. It seems that telling her only made her breath angry because it's currently more ferocious than ever… *cries*
February 8th, 2010 at 5:07 pm
*slayed* oh lawd, my soul roflmao
February 8th, 2010 at 7:16 pm
my dad usually passes me a mint, and yeah i shrug it off. i eventually find out he thinks my breath is stank and doesn't want to embarass me or hurt my feelings. so, i'd do that, however it seems this is much serious. hmm..
February 8th, 2010 at 7:55 pm
I would flat out ask him when was the last time he's been to the dentist. It sounds like he has a bad tooth or gingivitis or halitosis. But yes, if you are a true friend, tell him. Better you than someone else who might offend him in the long run.
February 8th, 2010 at 8:16 pm
my breath used to stink really bad in high school. I went the doctor and found out I had a rotten tooth in the back…got it taken out..breath still smelled like hot doo doo. oh well.
February 8th, 2010 at 8:19 pm
You are responsible for my death from laughter, FYI. Thanks!
February 8th, 2010 at 8:41 pm
deaaath. im too done.
February 8th, 2010 at 8:44 pm
Ain't nuthin worse that someone who's breath smells like a little man with shit shoes is tap dancing in their mouth. Especially if you have to work or hang with them on the regular. my old boss use to have a, how shall we say a funky vag odor. So bad I'd walk behind her and she smelled like a shrimp basket at red lobster..that was rotten. I sent her one of those anonymous emails. Did the trick.
February 8th, 2010 at 9:06 pm
Oh my goodness, LOL! Well…when I was in college, I was talking in close proximity to this guy and he asked me, "did you fart". I said no and he immediately looked at my mouth. I got the clue and popped some gum in my mouth. So, just ask the bloke every time you meet with him if he farted and hopefully the light bulb will at least flicker.
February 8th, 2010 at 9:58 pm
DEEEEAAAAADDDDDD…Bless you and your honesty
February 8th, 2010 at 5:24 pm
The best thing to do would be to just tell him. After the embarrassment passes he should appreciate your honestly as oppose to letting him run around with that shit-mouth telling secrets. Cuz you know doodoo breath muthafukkas ALWAYS got a secret to tell.
February 8th, 2010 at 10:36 pm
I would want my friend to tell me that my breath is kicking rather than walking around and speaking to people and embarrassing myself. That is not how I want to make my first impression.
On the days I have funky breath I can usually taste it.
February 8th, 2010 at 10:57 pm
Does this friend have a partner (guy/girl that he's intimate with) because i am sure that kissing this fella is unpleasant. Maybe you could team up with him/her and get this stinky problem taken care of.
February 8th, 2010 at 11:09 pm
the way you can tell if you have rotten breath is licking your wrist and wait. If it stinks then your breath stinks.
February 8th, 2010 at 11:11 pm
everytime you comment I always fall out laughing. lol lol lol
February 8th, 2010 at 11:24 pm
i swear every time i smell something shitty i think its my upper lip
February 9th, 2010 at 12:32 am
Lmao, fuck the world then!
February 9th, 2010 at 12:33 am
lol. Well nevermind the fact that I said Infliction, instead of affliction. Blame it on the public school system, lol.
February 8th, 2010 at 10:55 pm
LMAO.. you said "oh well" like its "okay"
hahahahahaha Too funny
February 9th, 2010 at 5:43 am
I'm sooo angry that you said "oh well." LMAOOOOOOOO I'm done.
February 9th, 2010 at 9:49 pm
lmao this is effing hilarious! "oh well"
February 9th, 2010 at 9:51 pm
say word! hahaha i just licked my wrist….all clear!
February 10th, 2010 at 10:13 am
LMAO..I LOVE UR' RESPONSE MISS JIA!!!! I TOTALLY AGREE!
February 10th, 2010 at 4:51 pm
I feel your pain. My coworker is a great guy. He's funny and smart, but I swear, if he talks for a little while in an enclosed area with you, and you WILL smell his breath. It's bad, and I'll be damned if he doesn't always turn down your gum-offerings! LOL! I think it's halitosis, or some kind of bacteria.
February 11th, 2010 at 11:46 pm
omg i feel sad for my son i dont let my son brush his teeth i do it for him he 4 years old n boy no matter how many time i wash his mouth shyt still stink so i fell you on that n i feel the females when my son grows up i hope is just a kid thing lol