It is always a possibility to tell a close friend or a relative of the person in question who has bad breath as the information can be better received and less offending when a close friend or relative informs the person about their bad breath. If you feel, however, that you are close enough to the person in question, then you could break the bad news yourself.
However, you need to uphold a certain amount of diplomacy, as it is not the nicest of things for someone to tell you. It is important that you think about how it would affect you if someone were telling you that you had the same problem. You could also ask, for example, if they have been eating garlic. By saying this, hopefully the person in question will get the message that you are sending.
Another way in which you could inform someone that they have bad breath is by sending them an email. It is a much easier process in getting the message across to the individual without having to actually tell them face-to-face. It is essential however, that you are not criticizing or funny in your email, it is essential that you remain respectful.
There are also nowadays, online services available, whereby you can send an anonymous message to someone, letting them know that they suffer with bad breath. The messages are all undertaken in jest, there is nothing spiteful about the messages, but hopefully the individual with the bad breath will get the message, so to speak, when they receive the email.
It is important also, that you try to understand why the person in question may have bad breath. It can, of course, be a medical condition which is out of their control. For this reason it is essential to seek this information primarily, before jumping in with both feet.
However, it may be that a person has poor dental hygiene, such as incorrect brushing which will leave food to decay in the teeth. Smoking can also cause a person to have bad breath, therefore, if the person in question does smoke, then you could suggest that the smoking is making their breath smell, and that maybe they should have a mint after every cigarette in order to control the smell on their breath. It is a diplomatic way of informing someone that they have bad breath.
You could also hint to the person with halitosis by taking out a packet of mints or gum, taking one out for yourself and then offering one to the person with a breath problem. This way, you are not actually telling them directly, but maybe they will understand as to why you keep doing it, and at the same time you are fixing the problem temporarily by them eating a mint or a piece of gum.
Conclusion
Whichever way to choose to inform someone about their bad breath, it is essential to remember that one day you could be in their shoes, and someone may be telling you that you have an odor problem. Therefore, be respectful, understanding and caring when discussing the matter with the individual and hopefully the bad breath problem will be solved.
