How do you tell someone she has breath that could wilt fresh flowers within a 10-mile radius?

Do yourself and perhaps everyone else a favor: Lick your wrist, let it dry for 10 seconds, and then give it a smell.

Just so you’re aware, this is most likely the odor that other people around you smell coming out of your mouth. Nothing there? Thank you! But if you’re among those smelling something along the lines of sour milk, we need to have a little chat here, person to person. For everyone’s good.

There is a chance you have halitosis. First time you’ve heard the term? That’s because no one wants to tell you that you’ve got chronic bad breath. We’re not talking morning breath, or that 3 p.m. breath after you’ve had coffee all day and a garlic-and-onion filled lunch, or even evening breath.

Halitosis is a legitimate condition, causing those around you to often legitimately gag.

But who wants to tell someone that? In fact, how do you tell someone that?

Dr. Fred Menghini is a board certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon in Minnesota.

Halitosis is a legitimate condition, causing those around you to often gag.

“Throughout my offices (four in Minnesota), dealing with halitosis and chronic halitosis is a normal day occurrence for me and my staff. However, for those who don’t work within a dental office environment,  it isn’t unusual for most people to feel uncomfortable telling someone they have awful breath,” Menghini said.

He suggests if you are close to someone, just be straightforward: “Dad, what have you been eating lately? Your breath always has a strange odor.”

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If it is someone you work with, a caring, concerned approach is advised, such as: “I’ve noticed your breath has really had an unusual odor to it lately. Are you feeling OK?”

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Years ago, a wonderful long-term client of mine suddenly developed chronic halitosis. Every time we scheduled a time to meet face-to-face, I actually got anxiety. The odor was unbearable and focusing on the subject at hand became difficult. Eventually, I suggested we just have phone meetings. After a few weeks, he asked me point-blank, “Do you have an issue coming to my office? Have I or the staff done something to make you feel uncomfortable?”

My heart sank, but I bucked up and told him, “I am quite sensitive to smell, and I am not sure if you realize that you might be dealing with halitosis.”

He actually responded with humor and let me know that “my honesty was a breath of fresh air.” He said he was more concerned my company did not want to continue working with him, and he went on to explain he had been dealing with stomach issues for some time. He immediately spoke with his physician, who recommended he visit his dentist.

Related: How to Handle Hallway Halitosis

Not everyone will take this so well. Nor will everyone have the guts to say something to a chronic offender. So before you tell someone they have halitosis, you might want to arm yourself with the following information.

What Causes Chronic Bad Breath?
“Halitosis most often starts in your mouth,” Menghini said. “Oftentimes it’s a ‘harmony’ of good and bad bacteria. When the bad bacteria reaches a higher level (as in the case of tooth decay or gum disease), your breath produces the bad odor.”

This is why cavities (decay in the tooth), cracked fillings (bacteria begins to leak from the tooth), dentures (not properly cleaned) and tongue and gums not scraped or brushed are the leading contributors to bad breath. The bad bacteria has risen higher than the good bacteria.

In rare cases, halitosis can actually stem from more serious conditions.

Other contributing factors can be dietary.

A steady feast of onions and garlic, coffee and alcohol don’t help, but neither do sweets, acidic foods, low carb or high protein diets. They can all cause chronic halitosis. Certain herbs, vitamins and medications are sneaky little culprits as well. Why?

“We are a product of our diet. When you eat garlic, onions, peppers  and the like, your body digests these foods, they get into our bloodstream, and they can be absorbed by our skin, eventually venting through our pores,” Menghini told LifeZette.

Other conditions such as an ongoing tonsil or sinus infection, acid reflux, or postnasal drip can contribute to halitosis, too. In rare cases, halitosis can actually stem from more serious conditions such as lung disease, certain cancers, diabetes, kidney disease, or chronic stomach ailments.

Related: Our Worst Dental Nightmares

But here’s the deal. You can’t do anything about it if you don’t know you have it and no one has the guts to tell you.

If you’re among those who prefer to be self-aware, check with your family or peers, try that lick test mentioned above, or do any of the following:

  • Scrape or brush your tongue. Over 50 percent of odor stems from bacteria on the back of the tongue; 32 percent comes from gum disease. The tip of your tongue is relatively self-cleaning. It’s the back of your tongue that harbors that nasty bacteria.
  • Floss. Flossing removes plaque, bacteria and food that gets trapped between your teeth, and flossing before brushing ensures that any food or bacteria that becomes lose while brushing won’t remain in your mouth.
  • Brush. But know that brushing alone only cleans 25 percent of your mouth. Experts suggest a toothbrush with “soft” nylon bristles, which won’t irritate your gums or eroding tooth enamel, and avoid toothbrushes with a “natural” bristles made from animal hair as they can harbor bacteria (which defeats your goal).
  • Rinse. There are many oral rinses on the market. Ask your dentist which one they would recommend. This is the final and most refreshing step in your oral hygiene routine.

“Do this for a few days, and test your saliva again (yep, on your wrist). If you still detect (an) odor, then set an appointment with your dentist. Chronic halitosis is the third most frequent reason (behind tooth decay and gum disease) for which people seek dental care,” Menghini said.