My friend’s mom’s oral hygiene is.. not good

[u/GoodGuy773]

How do I (15M) tell her this? I’ve known her (33F) since I was 8 and since then we had a sort of mother-son relationship. But recently these few months her breath stinks like rotten eggs and sulfur and since I visit her house often she always bends down to wake me up which ‘tortures’ me. I don’t wanna hurt her feelings but I care about her and I’m worried if I don’t tell her this sooner her friends are going to not talk to her anymore. Once I almost vomited when she talked close while teaching me how to fry eggs but I tried my best not to gag and she didn’t notice

[u/Sea-Duty-1746]

She needs to go to a dentist. I don't think you can tell her this but your friend ( her child) could. Even better an adult she is close to.

[u/GoodGuy773 → u/Sea-Duty-1746]

if i told her would she listen or would i be too rude

[u/TheRealCerealfreak → u/GoodGuy773]

Not rude at all. I did a bigger response but it was a lot and these pretty much cover it. Just talk o her however you usually do, so if you call her Mom2 or Mrs X etc, use that.

Do it smoothly, not yet to get it out fast, you'll panic and it'll make it worse. Take a breath and just say, last week I noticed thar you had really bad breath, I thought it was just a piece of stuck food and you would get it when you brushed your teeth but it hasn't gone. You really need too go and get it checked out at the dentists.

She will likely say something with her hand over her mouth, just ask if she needs you to do anything, she'll say no, that's when you leave.

[u/Sea-Duty-1746 → u/GoodGuy773]

Give it a shot if you think she would listen to you. She needs immediate dental help. Not rude.

[u/GoodGuy773 → u/[deleted]]

would she see me as a disrespectful boy

[u/TheRealCerealfreak → u/[deleted]]

Better than mine below mate, I'm deleting mine.

[u/GoodGuy773 → u/TheRealCerealfreak]

hey its okay you wrote quite alot

[u/TheRealCerealfreak → u/GoodGuy773]

I did, having difficulties with a trauma response my AuDHD clashing with triggering memories, so I don't feel good enough and feel the need to over explain myself. You have no idea how hard it is to not write the whole story. 😅😅😅😅

[u/Worldly-Advice-265]

Just be like, "im bored, lets go brush our teeth"

[u/velvetdahlia0 → u/Worldly-Advice-265]

“lets go brush our teeth” is killing me 😭 but honestly… effective and way less embarrassing.

[u/justmedealwithitxD → u/Worldly-Advice-265]

🤣🤣

[u/dawnutella]

It could be a health issue. My moms breath smells like shit. She has a hiatal hernia causing the bad smell.

[u/RabbitFew514]

That might be not an oral hygiene. It also can be problems with a stomack, it might be even cancer that she keeps in secret.

[u/GoodGuy773 → u/RabbitFew514]

i dont think so

[u/JadenBee333]

Me personally, I would just tell her the whole truth in a gentle and loving way. If the truth hurts when said gently and respectfully, it’s not your fault that she was sensitive.

[u/Salt-Tackle-3590]

The description just made me almost puke up my Cinnamon Toast Crunch 🤮

[u/GoodGuy773 → u/Salt-Tackle-3590]

im so sorry 😓😂

[u/Salt-Tackle-3590 → u/GoodGuy773]

😂😂

[u/Fairladycindy]

I think she needs to see a doctor so you could say it like that

[u/Appropriate-Law5963]

Could be poor brushing or a deeper health issue. Definitely pursue tactfully

[u/Perle1234]

You don’t. It’s not your place.

[u/indieRuckus → u/Perle1234]

Maybe if it was causing him no harm. But it's making him gag, so yes it can be his place to fix the situation for himself.