A
female
age
30-35,
anonymous
writes:hi im 18 years old and i have a rather embarrasing problem..but i dont know if it actually exists or its me being paranoid.i hate people coming close to my face because i think i have bad breath.i move away when people are in my face and ignore them if they expect me to answer them and just shrug my shoulders..its really annoying!! im forever chewing gum..i brush my teeth and i use mouth wash..help me get over it x Reply to this Question
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female
reader, anonymous, writes (14 January 2010): Hi. I always have this problem too. Many people think they can smell their own breath by doing the hand cupping thing & sometimes this works for me if I've been eating something strong like garlic, or in the morning but throughout a normal day we get used to our own smells (i think the dentist calls is acclimastion or something..) but the most reliable way is to wash your hands thoroughly, dry them with a clean towel, then lick the back of the hand and wait about 10-15 minutes and if the smell is bad then the chances are you have bad breath. The bacteria that cause bad breath can leave a smelly layer of sulphur compounds on your hand, hence the smell. My ex BF had bad halitosis and was completely unaware but I noticed it happened when he didn't brush his teeth thoroughly and also his diet wasn't that great. Try the hand test and see if it works. I can sometimes smell my own breath my breathing out into my hand upwards in the direction of my nose but the more reliable test is the saliva on the back of the hand test. I hate standing too close to people too, just in case! Even though my family say my breath never smells I still feel weird if I'm standing close to someone!
A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (14 January 2010): OMG, I have the exact same problem! I don't dare talk to people without having a chewing gum in my mouth. I wish I had the courage to ask somebody if my breath smells bad, but I don't. One of the people who answered your question before me, suggested that you can tell how your breath smells by cupping a clean hand around your mouth and breathing out slowly. That is unfortunately not true. There is absolutely no way you can smell your own breath. I'm sorry I can't help you, I just wanted to let you know you are not the only one who has this problem.
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A
female
reader, lioness32  +, writes (14 January 2010):
 What makes you think you have bad breath? Has anyone told you that? If not, i would continue to brush my teeth, brush my tounge, and keep breath mints.
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A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (14 January 2010): sometimes chewing gum can leave a slight aftertaste & smell in the mouth & you don't necessarily need mouthwash although if you use a good one i guess it could help
you can probably tell how your breath smells by cupping a clean hand around your mouth and breathing out slowly ..
a good healthy diet helps to maintain fresh breath, as does drinking enough water & brushing & flossing your teeth thoroughly morning & night & sometimes inbetween depending on what you've eaten -
fizzy drinks can make the breath smell stale, as can smoking etc ..
your breath probably smells perfectly ok if you are observing good diet & oral hygeiene practices and as for people getting too close, many people prefer to have a bit of space between themselves and the person they are talking to, so just tactfully position yourself at a distance that feels comfortable for you
everyone will have a smell on their breath sometime or other, especially in the mornings but if you ever get noticeably bad breath it could be a sign of poor diet, or a health issue so always check with the dentist &/or GP
just relax, enjoy talking to people at a distance comfortable for you & you'll be fine! hope this helps.
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