It's not easy to tell anyone that they have bad breath. You probably won't want to tell strangers at the bus stop. If you tell someone at work or a friend about the problem, you are a real hero/heroine and I salute you. But be forewarned: they may not be initially appreciative. However, they may acknowledge your altruism, courage and kindness over time. See the e-mail I once received on this subject below, it speaks for itself:

“When I was at university, I met an acquaintance on the street once and we got talking about what we were planning to do later that day. I said that I was going back to my apartment before going out again later that day.

He said ‘Perhaps you should brush your teeth while you're at home.' I was shocked for a moment, and considered feeling offended, but a moment's thought made me realize that he had in fact done me a favor.”

I don't expect you to tell acquaintances at work that they have bad breath. Just family and very close friends. I have been at dental faculties for decades, and some of the professors there have bad breath. Their patients, students and peers all know. But I tell only the ones who ask me directly (a few have).

But the case is different for family members or other close people that you really love and care for. In this case, you have a moral obligation. This is

1. because bad breath may be ruining their life, and

2. it's usually treatable, sometimes within hours.

Certainly, not everyone has the gumption to tell a friend that he or she has bad breath. However, at the very least, we should be prepared to level with the ones that we love and hope that should the need arise, they will reciprocate in kind.

Finally, if you want to tell someone anonymously, let me know and we'll do the dirty work.

melros@post.tau.ac.il