Husband has bad breath, affects intimacy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would actually get a second opinion in this case, your dentist may have missed something and/or he needs a stronger treatment than the one recommended. There are Rx mouthwashes - at least get that so it will have more of an impact because your husband has obvious issues being compliant with his treatment plan.

This is CRAZY! Dude doesn't brush more than 1x per day- if that. Probably no flossing, and he's not brushing his tongue. Lets not make it into a huge medical issue. He has poor hygiene. Work on brushing at least 2x a day and flossing 1x per day and then see where he's at.

I would tell him it makes me not want to have sex. He should want to fix the issue.

[Anonymous]

1) Brush twice a day
2) Use a waterpik - fill it with Hydrogen Peroxide + water.
3) Use a tongue cleaner (scraper) to keep tongue clean
4) If tonsil stones - either clean it out with the waterpik or tonsillectomy.
5) Gargle with Listerine
6) Chew fennel seeds - helps with stomach issue as well
7) Drink lots of water
8) Increase fiber in your diet, to keep system clean.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1) Brush twice a day
2) Use a waterpik - fill it with Hydrogen Peroxide + water.
3) Use a tongue cleaner (scraper) to keep tongue clean
4) If tonsil stones - either clean it out with the waterpik or tonsillectomy.
5) Gargle with Listerine
6) Chew fennel seeds - helps with stomach issue as well
7) Drink lots of water
8) Increase fiber in your diet, to keep system clean.

Surgery is an overreaction if he hasn't done everything else within his power to fix it.

[Anonymous]

This sounds like a hygiene issue to me. He needs to be brushing 2x/day for starters. And flossing. I would tell him that his breath is impacting your desire to be intimate with him and maybe that will motivate him to start taking care of himself.

[Anonymous]

ugh divorce.

[Anonymous]

Op....I am so sorry. I am 35, in my first year of marriage and 38 weeks pregnant. My tall dark and handsome husband has developed the WORST breath in the last year. I have told him about it and it was terrible because he is so sensitive. It ruins our time together. Once I smell it, I am immediately in a bad mood. I cannot tell you how much it effects me. We have not been intimate since March of this year and to be honest, it has had a huge and negative impact on our marriage. He is they type that doesn't smell it and doesn't think it's a problem. If someone told me what I told him of his breath and the impacts it has had on our relationship, I would run, not walk to the closest dentist, ENT, allergist, etc. he does have allergies and is kind of a mouth breather, which also sucks in bed b/c if he is facing me, the smell wakes me up. He is a confident man, who is working in his dream job, which requires close talking to other individuals....I told him I'm concerned about his career. I mean, the issue is offensive. I feel terrible bringing it up, but he is not doing anything about it. I used to snuggle with him on the couch and now....I don't really go near him. He went to an ENT this week and told the dr that I commented on his breath...the dr said everything looked ok, there were no tonsil stones, no infection in the throat, etc. I think he has more appts set up with dentist and allergist. He does brush and rinse with listening but it does nothing. Nothing. It actually grosses me out and being pregnant does not help. He has a big, very serious job and I can't imagine. What co workers think. All I think about is when I'm in labor and he is next to me breathing....what else am supposed to do? I give him hints all the time. I hand him gum all the time, I don't kiss him, and we never are close to each other. I actually really really miss being hugged and with the anxiety of a pregnancy and a very ill mom, I have really needed a hug or two this year. It's very bad...I can understand how you feel. Maybe Therabreath will help?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hope he doesn't go down on you. Yuck mouth.

OP here. Thanks for everyone's responses. I welcome more. I actually ask him to brush his teeth before we are intimate, no matter what time of day, even if he has brushed them that day. So they are always brushed right before he gives me oral, thankfully!

His tonsils are out already. What are some prescription mouthwash names? Anyone know of some? Do most people brush/scrape their tongue these days? I do, just wondering if others do. Yeah it seems like he needs to up the hygiene, but I guess it is possible he has an issue too that the dentist/hygienist missed.

The last post describes mostly how he is - stubborn, not concerned since he doesn't smell it, easily offended and then mad, doesn't really try to do anything about this, thinks I am being pushy if I say something. I mean, I have said enough about it that he mostly knows, but it's like he doesn't care that much. The only thing I haven't said is just a straight out "look, your breath is really bad, and it affects our relationship". Maybe I need to go there. He won't handle that well. I guess I was trying to figure out the best way to say that or if others thought of something else too.

Any prescription mouthwash names would be great. If he's not going to scrape his tongue, then he may need one of those. He won't try scraping long enough to get over the gag feeling.

[Anonymous]

OP, I'm sorry that you have to deal with this. I had no idea there were adults who only brushed their teeth once a day... that is repulsive. Is it that hard to spend 2 extra minutes brushing your teeth a second time a day and dealing with the gag feeling for 2 seconds to get your mouth clean?

If I were you, I think I would phrase your direct confrontation with "I" statements as much as possible. "Honey, we need to talk. I am having a serious issue with your breath, and it makes me not want to be intimate with you. Can we talk about some things we might be able to do to help the situation?" You should start with brushing 2x/day and tongue scraping as non-negotiable, and try for mouthwash and flossing after that. Or, you could ask him if he can devote 10 minutes to this activity twice a day for the sake of your marriage. Maybe there is something you can do during this 10 minutes that would feel reciprocal... like cleaning or doing something he wants you to do.

My husband sometimes has bad breath, but he brushes twice a day and uses Listerine afterward every time. I think it's because he doesn't brush his tongue.

[Anonymous]

Please try SmartMouth mouthwash. It is the only stuff that works on my DH.

http://www.amazon.com/SmartMouth-Alcohol-Free-Mouthwash-Fresh-Mint/dp/B001ET7IY2/ref=sr_1_2?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1383451606&sr=1-2&keywords=smart+mouth

[Anonymous]

Warning about mouthwash: when it overdries it causes the WORST shitbreath. So you may want to use ACT or Smartmouth or one of the alcohol free ones. NOT listerine.

People will go crazy on the mouthwash to improve their breath not knowing that the mouthwash is CAUSING it.

[Anonymous]

My dh has this. I am a pp. I think alcohol makes it worse. One beer after work and it amplifies it....big time. Omg.

[Anonymous]

Has anyone tried Smart Mouth or Thera a Breath and has it worked???

[Anonymous]

.

[Anonymous]

Could it be his wisdom teeth?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone tried Smart Mouth or Thera a Breath and has it worked???

Yep, those both actually work as opposed to all the other drugstore stuff. However, Thera Breath is overpriced in my opinion.