Husband has bad breath, affects intimacy

[Anonymous]

Meds like statins can cause dry mouth and chronic breath issues, I know this from personal experience. It can be frustrating and even brushing/flossing/using a rinse like Biotene can make it tough to tame.

[Anonymous]

I have the same problem with my husband He's too lazy to address it daily.

[Anonymous]

Op, even though my family eats the same thing I'm eating, for some (probably genetic) reason, certain foods made my breath bad and no one else's.

I brush (Sonicare), floss, use that rubber tipped tool, and still had a problem. The tongue scraper proved to be the fixer. And, does your DH have milk? (like in his coffee?) Milk, or milk+sugar, wow, that just coated my tongue and stayed there. Tongue scraper.

I'd get him a dental appt and call the dental assistant and tell them what's bothering you and you need the dentist to recommend a mouthwash and check for any other problems. If he hears it from a dentist, he's more likely to do it.

[Anonymous]

Go on Amazon and order Smart Mouth right now.

[Anonymous]

Does he floss? You wouldn't believe how bad that stuff in between your teeth smells

[Anonymous]

tonsil stones.

[Anonymous]

Can you see tonsil stones in the mirror or are they hidden?

[Anonymous]

My husband has had horrible breath at times. When it's that bad, I just come out and tell him there's an issue and it turns me off, and he does everything he can to fix it.

If your husband is too delicate a flower to deal with the reality of his stench, and too stubborn, he must not want to have sex with you. There's no room for argument. Just tell him.

I have a nose like a bloodhound, and stink is the dealbreaker for me sexually. I don't care how ugly you are, but if you smell bad I'll say GOOD DAY.

[Anonymous]

he needs to brush more often, if he only does it once a day and maybe never on the weekends thats his problem.
Brush, floss, rinse pretty simple doesn't take much time. I always brush again if I know DW and I are going to have sex, its just the right thing to do.
does he shower? sounds like a slob

[Anonymous]

I've had the EXACT same problem. For about TEN YEARS. I mean, it's a HUGE issue. I'm lying in bed next to him right now, it's a King sized bed, he's about three feet away and it STINKS SO BAD I can't stand it. He is snoring loudly, of course.

I've BEGGED him to get help at the dentist, to deal with his hygiene, and expressed concerns to him about his work, where his job is to lean close to people and help them with computer issues.

NADA.

Women, it will ONLY GET WORSE. He also had a problem with a stinky belly button in the past, and not cleaning his dick properly after urinating.

What can I say? Sexless marriage with NO affection for years and years now. It really sucks! If your man won't respect your right to live with someone who has BASIC HYGIENE, it's often a Passive-Aggressive ATTACK on you. Yeah, he KNOWS he's disgusting you, he's grossing you out, it's ruining your intimacy...and HE DOES NOT CARE.

Please, save yourself YEARS of emotional torture and just get out now!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Okay, I was asking about the infection treatment just in case it applied. But he was just at the dentist recently, and was there last year too. Both times they said he has some receding gums from gingivitis (common at this age), but nothing else besides cavities filled. They said brush more, floss, rinse with listerene, and get regular cleanings (for the gums). So no hidden infection, unless it is some whole mouth thing.

I was just thinking, if you only brush your teeth once/day and forget about one day per week to do it at all, you never floss, you never brush/scrape your tongue, aren't you just not doing enough regular care to have good breath?

He should get a dental cleaning every 6 months.

[Anonymous]

There are medical problems associated with bad breath. If he has any GI complaints have him see a doctor.

[Anonymous]

A grown man who only brushes his teeth once a day, and sometimes forgets on the weekends? Does he remember to wipe his butt, know when to blow his nose, and how to clean his ears?

This guy has serious issues beyond medical dental issues, but that's still the place to start. If he won't listen to you, maybe he will listen to another grown-up and start to grow up himself.

That said, tonsil stones are nasty and no amount of brushing will change his breath if those are the issue. They are also easy to deal with but you have to learn how.

He needs a dentist, then a doctor to look in his mouth and throat. But you also need to tell him, no man who expects to be intimate with a woman only brushes his teeth once a day. Same for anyone who hopes to actually hang on to their teeth in old age.

[Anonymous]

I agree with the PP who mentioned a water pik. That makes a huge difference with my breath, there can be little food particles that get stuck and stink and are hard to get out with flossing. Much easier than flossing to, thus more likely to get done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op, even though my family eats the same thing I'm eating, for some (probably genetic) reason, certain foods made my breath bad and no one else's.

I brush (Sonicare), floss, use that rubber tipped tool, and still had a problem. The tongue scraper proved to be the fixer. And, does your DH have milk? (like in his coffee?) Milk, or milk+sugar, wow, that just coated my tongue and stayed there. Tongue scraper.

I'd get him a dental appt and call the dental assistant and tell them what's bothering you and you need the dentist to recommend a mouthwash and check for any other problems. If he hears it from a dentist, he's more likely to do it.

NP. The part about needing to hear this from the dentist--not you, the wife--is an excellent idea. Call or stop by the dentist's office and be frank with the dentist if possible or the hygienist. Ask them to say THEY smell a problem, they are concerned, and they are telling him to do X and Y and want to see him again in a month. Make sure they do not let him know you primed them! (We have had the same dentist and hygienist for decades so I know them well enough that I would be fine walking in and discussing this; I wouldn't tell my dentist "it's killing the sex" but I wouldn't hesitate to say I was worried DH's coworkers could smell it and DH was in denial, etc).

Some people have to hear anything like personal criticism from a third party--they just will not ever hear it, or heed it, coming from a spouse. It's unfortunate, but often true.

Alternatively: Does DH have a friend whom you know well enough to ask to tell DH his breath stinks? Without saying you asked him to say so?

It's sad to have to play those games but DH may just assume you're overly sensitive. Later if want to work on why he can't be grown-up about listening to a simple observation intended to help him.