My husband gets a horrible distinctive odor from his mouth when he is sick. It's the first sign and an easy conversation because of course I'm more concerned he will be truly ill soon. Just express concern and sympathy that the odor could be something more and he will brush his teeth and monitor it himself for a few days.

Buy bottles of mouthwash and place them all over the bathroom vanity with a sign use this daily! That should send a clear message.

What is it with men and not brushing their teeth? Dh does brush. But I feel before I leave the house - when though I've brushed that morning already- I should give at least a cursory brush for the sake of everybody else. Dh does not get it.

If you are out and can't get to a toothbrush ... "Do you need a piece of gum?"

I just ask my husband to brush his teeth when it gets unpleasant. For some unknown reason, he seems to forget to brush his teeth in the mornings and if I can tell, I will ask him if he has brushed them. I do this for his colleagues and his job, actually, because I feel like bad breath at work can be bad news. He usually brushes his teeth after dinner, though. So that's good news.

He has told me in the past that my breath is not great (maybe two or three times?) and it's not a big deal. I just go and brush.

"Damn, What did you eat, a shit sandwich?!"

Or, you could try...

"Here sweetheart, chew this gum, that garlic is not settling well"

"Honey, your breath is bad."

Not bad like from the tonsiliths stuff, but unpleasant and still a turn off

If it were you, and you want your spouse to tell you, what is the best way to hear the news? Assume beating around the bush options have been exhausted at this point.