What is worse? Bad breath or body odor (or is there something else?)

1. 67

   xethonxqposted 13 years ago

   What is worse? Bad breath or body odor (or is there something else?)
   
   Would you say something to the person if they had an offensive smell or would you just step back and tolerate it until you could get away?

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2. 0

   rorshak sobchakposted 13 years ago

   I would never say someone stinks. This could be a sign of depression. So I always try to be polite. The thing I do is take a step back discretely. Like I am looking at something... This works well if you are talking to someone.

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3. 77

   mattdigiulioposted 13 years ago

   Good one. I think when I intellectualize it, both bad breath and body odor are equally disgruntling. But emotionally, I feel that bad breath is worse. Maybe I encounter (or realize) bad breath less often, so it is more of an acute sensation for me.

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4. 85

   prettynutjob30posted 13 years ago

   Bad breath,and body odor together a very putrid smell yuck.

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5. 60

   rlahaposted 13 years ago

   I think both are bad.  Trying to tell someone they have one or the other, or even both is very tough though.  Great question!

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6. 61

   Peanutritiousposted 13 years ago

   Both are hideous! If I had to pick though, i'd say bad breath is worse. It makes me gag! Someone I know suffers from body odour and I'd feel uncomfortable saying anything to them.  They have a history of depression and I don't want to make them feel worse.

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7. 61

   duffsmomposted 13 years ago

   Bad breath is particularly hard for me to deal with when talking to a person.  Sometimes it can be so bad, you almost want to gag.  I wouldn't have the courage to them about it though, I would just keep stepping back until I put a decent odor buffer between us.

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8. 60

   Matt in Jaxposted 13 years ago

   I can tolerate smells if I'm only meeting someone once and they're like that, but if I work with them in a closed space since I work in an office...I'd have to say something. I think bad body odor is the worst.

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9. 70

   ithabiseposted 13 years ago

   Body odor. I've had the unfortunate task of alerting two former roommates of their problem. One was just unclean; and after I could no longer sleep for the odor in the room burning my nose, I confronted him. He cleaned his things (and body) and the odor ceased. (This guy even infested the room with baby spiders!) The second guy...well I had to care for him because others would have treated him horribly. He had a chemical imbalance in his body. One day while sitting in class I smelled his very putrid odor in my sweater! That's when I had to confront him and he confessed to his problem--but he thanked me for having the courage to address it and make sure he was doing everything to keep it to a minimum.

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10. 61

    Bella Ninaposted 13 years ago

    Yuck and yuck.  And if there is anything yuckier, then yuck to that too!!

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11. 69

    Alecia Murphyposted 13 years ago

    Bad breath I feel like you can control by what you eat when and if you must eat that something, eating a mint after.
    Body odor is a sign of lack of hygeine, a disengaged emotional state, a lack of consideration for others, and so much more so I'm going to say that's worse. But I agree, telling anyone about either is super awkward and challenging.

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12. 68

    Jewelz1313posted 13 years ago

    They are both obtrusive and I guess it would have to depend on how strong it is. I have probably had more experience dealing with people with bad breath than body odor. Both can be a sign of a more significant health problem, but sometimes it's is just because of something they have eaten. If someone has bad breath because they have just eaten an onion. I'm going to offer them a mint. Although some people have gingivitis and they know it so pointing it out would just embarrass them because until something done via the dentist, there is just nothing they can do. Body odor can also be attributed to medicines or medical problems, and sometime just too much garlic or drinking alcohol (bad breath can also be from drinking) or like
    rorshak sobchak says they could be depressed and not bathing. This being said, both are offensive, but beware of the reason for the odor.

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13. 86

    Beata Stasakposted 13 years ago

    Look after your body and mind...and a part of it is a basic hygiene, if for nothing else than just out of respect for the fellow humans...they are both equally unpleasant in close social situations...

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14. 60

    rob_allenposted 13 years ago

    whoa! hard question. For me it depends, if i know the person very well and he/she knows me as well, i guess, i would tell it to them straight to their faces in a way that is friendly and not offensive. But if it is a total stranger, i would rather keep quiet, you don't know them and you don't know how would they react if you tell it to them straight to their faces, right?

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15. 60

    Shuting Starposted 13 years ago

    Of course,bad breath is much more worse than bad body odor.Another nasty smell is bad foot odor.

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16. 60

    THEHuG5posted 13 years ago

    I think body odor is worse than bad breath. At least if your breath is bad you can pop a mint for a temporary fix or just keep your mouth closed lol. If you have BO then it is way harder to hide and way more embarrassing in my opinion. People will remember you for BO more than for bad breath.

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17. 78

    Cat Rposted 13 years ago

    Bad breath can be temporarily fixed with peppermints and such and sometimes just stems from food. Body odor is just plain and simply lack of hygiene!

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