I would like to start a thread on Chinese breath. Bad breath, that is. I have literally had to get off the bus on occasion, because it is just that horrific. I'm sorry if I offend any Chinese, particularly my Chinese wife, but bad hygiene is offensive to me generally. Also, I suppose that dragon's breath can apply to all Asians, not just Chinese, although I'm not sure. I would appreciate it, if any Chinese would like to comment. I also think that better dental care for all Chinese has tremendous potential.
you and i cant change the culture. it will change with time, dental care, and the wealth to use it it is a class thing too. it used to be the same in uk till we had free dental and school dentist. the yanks still joke about british dentals. the simple solution is dont take the bus, or go to places with working class people. your wife knows about the dental problem but knows it cant be fixed by arrogant forign devils, no matter how well meaning
It is definitely cultural, but I think it goes beyond social class. For example, I think one of the reasons Chinese like very spicy food is because they can't taste it if it isn't that spicy. Smell and taste are inter-related. At Starbucks, and admittedly, I don't like Starbuck's coffee, the only coffee you can buy are these really dark roasts. Once again, I think it is because the Chinese can't taste a lighter roasted coffee.
I had coffee at Mcdonald's and it was horrible. Tasted burnt. Yuk!
now the goal posts have moved
Free dental care in the UK? I wish the US had that.
Yes we even have public health care in Zimbabwe. I believe it's considered mandatory in order to be a developed country.
Persistent bad breath is usually a sign of deeper lying heath problems. Anything from tonsillitis to hepatitis.
@napoleon
...or not brushing your teeth in the morning
@Mr Pink: Your theory about Chinese liking spicy food doesn't hold up, as Chinese food is by no means spicy everywhere. As for taste discrimination, there are few Chinese who are less adept at distinguishing the subtlety of the many varieties of Chinese tea than I, a non-Chinese, am. And I like dark roasts - as do, for example, the French, Italians, Turks and some other peoples who are really into coffee.
If you can't stand to ride the bus here, you might consider that at least a tiny part of the problem might be your own, and not that of the 1.5 billion around you.
Why do you think that 'dragon's breath' might apply to 'all Asians'? Which Asians are included in 'all Asians'? Do you imagine that 'all Asians' have bad dental care or bad hygiene and eat spicy food or have some cultural attitude that you can, and should, help fix?
I wonder how you manage to survive here.
Note that I am not objecting to better dental care, or toothbrushing as a partial preventive of tooth decay and disguise of the odor of human breath without it, for anybody.
One thing I think is probably true: the recent, more rapid decline in smoking in many areas and the slower decline in China helps many Chinese to get along without so much offense concerning odors of smell. I'm a smoker, no excuses, and I am not promoting smoking as a particularly good solution, but you might consider taking it up, Mr. Pink.
Just to clear up one point, dental care in the UK is not free, even if you have the good luck to find a dentist who will treat you on NHS terms.
