How to tell your boyfriend he has bad breath

Updated | By Tamlyn Canham

Bad breath is a dealbreaker for many people, but hope is not lost if you suffer from halitosis.

Woman blocks her nose and avoids her boyfriends bad breath — File photo: iStock

Kissing a frog could produce a handsome prince, at least in a Disney movie, but locking lips with someone who has bad breath could end badly.

Australian actress Nicole Kidman recently sparked an online conversation when she revealed she cannot stand men's bad breath, especially during on-screen kisses.

“I mean, this is a dealbreaker for me. Like, you could be the most gorgeous, gorgeous guy, and you come at me with bad breath, and I'm like, 'No, no, no,'" she said on the ‘Las Culturistas’ podcast.

"If I say, ‘breathe on me,’ and I have to recoil? Yikes. I'm out. You could not offer me enough money."

Kidman says one of her co-stars ate a falafel sandwich before a kissing scene, and she was not having it.

“The bad breath does not turn me on. It is very important to smell good, but more importantly, the mouth, the taste of the mouth, and the smell of the mouth are very important to me.”

READ: Experts share the best dental tips and advice

Eating certain foods, like garlic bread, can temporarily make your mouth smell, but that usually wears off.

Sadly, people who have chronic bad breath, which is known as halitosis, aren’t aware how bad it is. According to health experts, this is because of “nose blindness” or “sensory adaptation”.

Basically, your nose adapts to the smell, and you don’t really notice it after a while, thinking it has gone away.

How to tell if you have bad breath

Some suggest doing the “lick test”. Lick the back of your wrist and then wait about 10 seconds for your saliva to dry. If you have pretty bad breath, then you will likely be able to smell it.

Another recommended method is to floss your back teeth, as halitosis usually comes from the back of your tongue and throat. If the floss stinks, then you could have bad breath.

If all else fails, just ask someone close to you to give your breath a whiff. Better them than a stranger side-eyeing you every time you open your mouth.

What causes bad breath?

Some common causes of bad breath include smoking cigarettes, a dry mouth or poor oral hygiene. Not brushing your teeth twice a day or forgetting to floss repeatedly could lead to bad breath. If small pieces of food remain between your teeth, bacteria grow. A plaque build-up can also lead to bad odour.

It is also important to brush your tongue as bacteria can get stuck between its rough surface. Cavities and gum disease can also cause foul smells.