Bad Breath! 🤢

I love my husband and I wouldn't leave him over something so frivolous, I'm simply looking for advice or ideas from others who have been through this or something similar.

Anyway, my husband smokes black and mild cigars. They make his breath reek like 💩, especially when he smokes, drinks then goes to sleep. I use to love kissing him, I still love his lips but the taste of his mouth literally turns my stomach.

Recently he asked me why I don't make out with him anymore and if he's a bad kisser. I lied to avoid hurting his feelings and told him I don't like kissing. He bought it because I wasn't a big kisser when he met because I have this thing with spit... but that's a story for another time 😒. Anyway, I hated lying to him but I just didn't know how to tell him I don't make out because his breath stinks. I started holding my breath when we made love and he kissed me, sometimes I feel I'd pass out because he wanted those deep, passionate kisses like we used to do. 😔

I know if I tell him he'd easily go brush his teeth, we've talked about it before but it's one of those things that gets in your pores or marinate with your stomach fluids or something, because brushing only lasts a few minutes, it's like it's coming from deeper than his mouth.

I've mentioned switching to vaping which I do and his excuse is he doesn't know the long term effects so he's not taking the chance. I respect that but what about black and mild are safe?? 🤨.

How do I get him to understand that I'm like sick over this? I wanna make out with my husband again and not suppress a gag. I love him, I love his lips and I wanna nibble on them like old times. Please help!!