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[tamray22]

How do you tell someone that their oral hygiene is horrible?  Placque on teeth, swollen red gums, and bad breath?  Need to figure out what to say.

[neutralname]

Offer them a mint every time you see them.

[larryc]

"John, your oral hygiene is terrible. If it affected only you, I would not say anything, but your breath frankly makes it difficult to work with you. You know that we have a dental plan here at work (or, here is the number of a low cost dental clinic), I want you to make an appointment."

There is no magic little hint that will work, come out and say it.

[spectacle]

I was thinking that you might be able to phrase it as concern.... "Steve, I was noticing that your gums look a little red. Do they hurt?  I know a really good, gentle dentist if you're ever looking for a recommendation..."

[monsterx]

Buy them a toothbrush, and secretly leave it in their mail cubby.   If that doesn't work, other articles can follow: toothpaste, mouthwash, floss, whatever, until the message gets through.  Cowards way out, but it does allow everyone to pretend that nothing is wrong, while fixing the problem.  Hopefully. 
 

[kedves]

Buy them a toothbrush, and secretly leave it in their mail cubby.   If that doesn't work, other articles can follow: toothpaste, mouthwash, floss, whatever, until the message gets through.  Cowards way out, but it does allow everyone to pretend that nothing is wrong, while fixing the problem.  Hopefully. 
 

Is tooth-brushing going to fix gum disease?  "Swollen red gums"  translate to "see dentist immediately"--at least, that's what I thought.
Something along the lines of what LarryC and Smithfieldmuse said would be the kindest advice in terms of really helping the other person.

Do you have a dental plan for employees, OP?

[neutralname]

You could try googling "how to tell someone they have bad breath" -- you'll get 1,310,000 results.

[hipgeek]

Maybe you just say nothing and preserve the working relationship. I don't care how nice someone is about it I don't want anyone commenting on my dental health.

[macaroon]

Maybe you just say nothing and preserve the working relationship. I don't care how nice someone is about it I don't want anyone commenting on my dental health.

Not all dental problems are related to poor "hygiene", so, if I were you, I'd be very careful about suggesting anything. Microbial "overgrowth" in the mouth can be caused by many things other than neglect.  It could be a symptom of another disease, like diabetes or HIV.  It can also be a side effect of a medication.  If that's the case, a toothbrush and a good dentist isn't going to "fix" the problem. 

Maybe, instead of what smithfieldmuse suggests, you could try:  "I notice your gums are bleeding a lot.  How is your health overall?  Are you feeling well?"

[hipgeek]

Maybe you just say nothing and preserve the working relationship. I don't care how nice someone is about it I don't want anyone commenting on my dental health.

Not all dental problems are related to poor "hygiene", so, if I were you, I'd be very careful about suggesting anything. Microbial "overgrowth" in the mouth can be caused by many things other than neglect.  It could be a symptom of another disease, like diabetes or HIV.  It can also be a side effect of a medication.  If that's the case, a toothbrush and a good dentist isn't going to "fix" the problem. 

Maybe, instead of what smithfieldmuse suggests, you could try:  "I notice your gums are bleeding a lot.  How is your health overall?  Are you feeling well?"

I agree and that was my point--red gums are a sign of someting serious than needing to brush more often.

Why ask this person about their health, though?  I think it's invasive and innappropriate.  I don't want to be in the position of saying "No. I'm very sick, actually" to a co-worker.

[drspouse]

If they were really sick then a toothbrush in their mailbox would be upsetting, to say the least.

I don't see anything wrong with enquiring after the general health of a colleague - so long as you are prepared for the "I don't want to talk about it" answer. 

What is less acceptable is guessing what is wrong with them.  Asking "oh, poor you, you've had two weeks off work, swine flu I guess, how do you think you caught it?" is likely to lead to floods of tears if in fact you are speaking to a young woman who has had an emergency hysterectomy and will never have children/someone who has been hospitalised for an acute episode of a newly diagnosed, chronic debilitating disease.

But as long as they are prepared to accept a vague, inaccurate answer I don't mind if colleagues say "oh dear, that's a nasty red mark on your face, are you OK?" and not "oh no, who hit you?" when in fact it is a scar remaining from a revolting boil that I'd rather not talk about.

[spork]

If the person stinks so bad that you find it distracting at work, tell the person, a la larryc.  The person will in all likelihood appreciate the honesty -- it saves the person from further embarrassment.

Periodontal problems are sometimes signals of systemic infection and/or cardiovascular diseases.  At minimum preventive treatment now is less costly and less painful than losing one's teeth later.