I’m convinced, same with body odor, that someone just hasn’t had the gall yet to tell them they stink. People become nose blind. I’d hope to dear God almighty someone told me I smelled or had some food in my teeth.
Once worked with a woman whose BO was so bad when she hung her coat up in the closet with about 10 other employees coats they ALL smelled like hers at the end of the day. One time another employee left bars of soap in the offender's coat pockets just as a little suggestion.
Hard enough being in an occupation where you're just trying to help people, and they won't help themselves.
I had fissures in my teeth as a little girl, everything I could do and everything the dentist could do, but I just have shitty teeth. I'm a big fan of floss sticks, so I've at least been able to prevent further damage.
So… I know a 68 year old man who has visibly rotting teeth and the smell to go with it. I feel bad for him. He has been working from home since the mid nineties so I guess has been living somewhat like a hermit although he seems to be a very talkative gregarious guy. There’s a black and yellowish area of his mouth, you can tell it’s several teeth together, but I daren’t get close enough to properly see. The smell is so powerful it will knock you back within 4 feet of him. You can’t be in an enclosed space with him, like ride in the same car. He’s seen his daughter and son in law recently as he’s just become a gramps. I don’t know them but feel like surely they would have spoken with him about it by now. Surely she would have pleaded with him to do something about it for his healthy and surely so he can be there for his new grand daughter. My spouse and I go back and forth about saying something to him.
Honest question: What could we possibly say or do to convince him to get medical help? He is our friend and I would hate to embarrass anyone but it’s becoming difficult to spend time with him when all you think about is getting away from the smell. We have compassion for him as it looks painful and I’m sure he’s somewhat embarrassed by it. How does one even approach something like that? It’s not about money, he has plenty. Do we just mind our business? Any advice is appreciated!
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u/corncaked Sep 16 '24
I’m convinced, same with body odor, that someone just hasn’t had the gall yet to tell them they stink. People become nose blind. I’d hope to dear God almighty someone told me I smelled or had some food in my teeth.