Body odour‚ bad breath issue: To be dealt with delicately

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

n Most of my friends are very smart, but some have poor personal hygiene caring less about bad breath or body odour. Because of this, other friends insult them and it hurts seeing them like that. I want to let them know about the problem, but it is not an easy task. I get scared. On the other hand, I cannot tolerate them being insulted, they are my friends too so I need to make them feel special. Thus, I should wait for a good time and positively raise the issue about their hygiene. I should not directly blame them but I can give examples and slowly can relate that issue with them so that they may not get hurt. Bad breath and body odour are great problems in our life that can ruin our career after all.

— Agrim Poudel, Masbar, Pokhara-7

n It’s very difficult to point out to people about their bad breath and body odour though the smell is unbearable. So it’s another person’s duty to inform them about the problem. However, ways of suggesting to the individual differs from person to person. But the best way to suggest is by a close member of the family or friend. Nonetheless, it you have to tell them when no one is present. S/he has to be told directly about the problem.

— Arjun Prasad Tiwari

n I have some friends who never put their personal hygiene as priority. When I come across them, there is this bad breath and horrible body odour. They never care about their bad breath and body odour. I often raise the issue and suggest them the following —

• First and foremost they have to care about their personal

hygiene.

• Second they have to consult a doctor for bad breath.

• Thirdly they have to take regular bath and in case the problem is not cured, they should use perfumes.

Apart from that, we have to show our personal hygienic behaviour as a good example, this might have a positive impact on them.

— Keshab Singh Air,

Siddheswor 9, Khodape, Baitadi

n It’s very embarrassing. Thank god, I’ve never encountered such a friend till now. All my friends are concerned about their personnel hygiene. However once I’ve encountered such a situation. I felt like throwing myself into a sack of perfume. It’s difficult to tell them after all. They should understand on their own about their body odour and bad breath. In my college once I met a student. I think he didn’t brush his tongue and teeth and it smelled like hell. I gave him a mouth freshener that I had with me. He understood and never dared to come in front of me.

I would like to suggest to the people who are least bothered about their personnel hygiene, whether you are a celebrity or a common person, if you don’t take care of your personal hygiene all your hard work will be in vain.

— Moin Uddin, Ghattekulo, Kathmandu

n If I really face any friend with poor hygiene, I will not stay away from that person. Rather, I will suggest him/her to maintain good health by pointing out the advantages of health and hygiene. I would ask the person to take care of his/her health first. Secondly, I would also ask the person to avoid bad habits like smoking, hard drinking, taking drugs and consuming unhealthy foods because they are harmful to our health. Thirdly, I would ask him/her to take regular bath to remain fresh and clean. Fourthly, I would ask him/her to consume foods that are scientifically beneficial to our health. Last but not the least I would advise the person to exercise and play outdoor games as it will help them become energetic.

— Pratik Shrestha,

Buddhanagar, Baneshwor

n My initial approach would be to tell him/her that in this competitive world, one ought to be extraordinarily talented to survive. I was just wondering about the usage of perfumes and effect of smells on others. Don’t you think it plays a vital role?

Then I would jump straight into the matter. Use of mints and toothpastes will make your breath fresh and body odour can be reduced to some extent by the use of perfumes. Don’t you think it’s a good idea?

Furthermore, to make a better convincing interaction, I would have indirect approach, try to boost that individual’s confidence and relate things with good examples.

— Uttam Sapkota

n Yes, of course it is a difficult task to tell someone about his/her bad breath or body odour. People with bad breadth lack many things one among them is no one likes to be close to them. So, they really have less friends. If I had to address his/her poor hygiene, I would start the conversation relating to poor hygiene gradually so that my friend will not feel bad about what I say. Then, I would discuss on various negative results of body odour, bad breath and suggest how to solve these problems. After this, I think my friend will take care of his/her hygiene.

— Rasbin Rijal

n Talking to a colleague about his/her faulty habits is never an easy task. However, beginning with the associated problems, both from the point of health and personality, brought about by unhygienic habits and relating it to a friend would be a better idea. Most often, pointing directly can hinder the friendship and the idea is not to hurt his/her feelings but to make them realise the fact that there is room for improvement.

Another way to handle or suggest such a person is to talk to them about the problem in a humourous or frivolous manner. This can work if the person is a very close friend. Nevertheless, it also depends upon whom you are speaking to.

— Anonymous

n Personal hygiene should be maintained by all. If one of the friends has poor hygiene, who does not care about his/her bad breath or body odour, it is a difficult task to tell someone s/he smells. We cannot tell him/her directly that you smell. It can jeopardise the friendship, at the same time who wants to be friends with such a person? We can discuss about the personal hygiene in general when everyone is together. Doing this can make that friend think about his/her personal hygiene. We should also talk about the importance of hygiene. We should tell him/her about the disease caused by poor hygiene. We should share incidences about people who don’t maintain their personal hygiene and about people’s body odour while travelling in the public transportation.

— Aaswastha Kafle, Masbar, Pokhara-7

n There is nothing to hide from or lie to a friend. Every person in our life has different values. Friends are the ones with whom we can be free. My friends know that I am honest, benevolent and faithful to them. Friends should know this. If they have bad breath and body odour, then obviously, other people will be disturbed. Other people may run away from them. My duty is to help my friends. I can tell my friends that they have bad breath or body odour. If they will be unaware about it then they have to face many difficulties in their life. According to their nature, I can make them face their problems and suggest further steps.

— Garima Poudel, Masbar, Pokhara-7

n One should maintain personal hygiene. We come across different types of people having various choices and interests. One of my friends was not aware of her body odour. All other friends used to tease her because of her poor knowledge about hygiene. But I felt sorry for her. Once it was during Teej festival, I gifted her a deodorant along with bangles and tika. On the day of Teej when we met in temple, I found her in a different mood and she smelt nice. Friends who used to hate her earlier also praised her for her changed attitude. Since then she has been quite aware about the necessity of cleanliness and hygiene.

— Ambika Pandey

n If my friend/colleague happens to be dirty and unhygienic then I will sit with him/her alone and would try to convince him/her to at least try to be neat and clean. The overall personality could be enhanced by the basic civic sense, so be neat and clean. Everybody has ego and should never be hurt, so it would be better to talk alone.

— Prem Arvind, Dhangadhi