Ok, so he/she, your friend has bad breath, how do you tell them?
Or do you not? Do you avoid them like the plague or suffer?

A true friend will tell you directly,
when you need a breath mint.

Yes, it's important to be honest and they will notice if you try to keep your distance . Besides, it could be a sign of something more serious like gum disease etc.

How can you not tell them? I am very sensitive to smell, so whenever they'd turn to talk to me I'd cringe and turn my head away, trying to create distance. I'd not want to kiss them either, yuk.
It'd also limit sexual activities. I mean... I wouldn't want that on my delicate parts and get an infection which could result me having to use antibiotics. Sod that!

It might be a part of poor body hygiene or an illness. But I would tell them for sure and offer some help.

I would depend on how bad it was. And what my relationship to them was.

I mean I wouldn't mind the delicate fragrance of pickled onions at all.

I've met one or two however who smell awfull. I dont say anything directly, they possibly know already. And as someone said, it could be a medical condition.

In the case of smokers, I'll just cringe. and say "It's a bit rank m8, do you care for a mint?"

Tell them right away then keep my distance till its better.
She keeps a toothbrush here and I have mouthwash and toothpaste available to her so it happens very rarely.

Speaking of halitosis, has anyone else noticed that the majority of dentists seem to have the worst breath imaginable? Possibly vengeance on the public?

Kinda depends on a lot of things.

We've already established a "friendship" in your scenario.
So is this a new thing? Just this day?
What are we doing?

I mean did they get in my car and they were all "omg. I just woke up, I haven't bathed or brushed my teeth since two days ago," and that's been kinda normal for them over the course of our "friendship?"
Are we spending all day in an enclosed space and it's so bad I can smell it while they're 4 ft away from me?

Or are we building a shed in the backyard, and for one particular roof joist their face happened to be within an inch of mine trying to hold parts together and I barely catch a whiff, but it's just going to be that one time our faces are that close?

Or are we getting ready to go out and we're dressed up, interacting with others in a professional or some meaningful way, where we're both worried about body odor and breath?

I might say nothing, just offer them some gum.
I might say "oh god, you're breath, get away from me with that. What did you eat for breakfast, coffee and ***? Don't breathe out in my direction."
I might say nothing and just ignore it.
I might avoid them and say they need to go back in and try again.



If they're my "friend" and they have halitosis, then I've already told them they have bad breath early on in the development of our relationship. Either they breached it telling me they have some sort of medical condition, or I've told them.

After that it's just mitigating it.

If it's something new, they need to be told. Could be a sign of heart disease.

Hell yeah
What kind of a friend let's you go out with a giant bogey hanging out of your nose

Cough
Huh
I think you might need this ( gesticulates to the snozzer, while passing you a tissue)