DEAR ABBY: This is in response to a recent letter in your column regarding dental patients who do not brush their teeth before their dental appointments.
I can understand the dental hygienist's chagrin. But I want to know what to say to a dentist when he has bad breath. On occasion, my dentist could use some mouthwash -- but I just don't know how to tell him. Do you have any ideas? -- GAGGING IN OHIO
DEAR GAGGING: How you tell people they have bad breath is not a problem. It's whether you have the courage to tell them that could be a problem.
If your relationship with the dentist is cordial, you might smile and say, "What's it going to be -- a mint, some mouthwash or a mask?" If you've caught your dentist unaware, the next question will be, "What do you mean?" to which you can respond, "You're about to wilt me with your dragon's breath."