What Does Halitosis Smell Like?
Halitosis, commonly known as bad breath, can certainly be embarrassing. But what if you skipped the onions or garlic and it did not help? Bad breath can actually be indicative of a medical condition, and not all bad breath smells the same. Here are five different versions of bad breath that warrant scheduling a visit to your dentist soon.
Rotten Egg Smell
If your breath smells like rotten eggs that can indicate a problem with your digestive tract. This is because gut microbiota breaks down sulfur, releasing that eggy-smelling gas. Causes for this could be Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease or GERD, which is when stomach acids creep back up the esophagus, or other digestive issues.
Fruity or Sweet Smell
Ketoacidosis, a complication related to diabetes, usually smells on the breath with a sweet, fruity odor. The reason is because if you are dealing with diabetes you suffer from inadequate insulin production needed to create the burning of fats which results in the production of ketones. These ketones produce a fruity odor that often smells like acetone. This odor can also be the result of chronic kidney failure, also a diabetes symptom.
Moldy or Fungus Smell
Sometimes growths, microbial buildups, or infections in your sinuses will contribute to your breath that smells like fungus or mold. Sinus infections often cause thick, yellowish mucus to drip from your nose or sinuses to the back of your throat. As you breathe, an overabundance of microbes, foreign particles, and metabolites accumulate and build up, resulting in bad breath, or halitosis.
Fecal Smell
As nasty as it sounds, if your breath smells like feces there is an increased probability you may have a bowel obstruction. A bowel obstruction happens when stools start to back up, resulting in your large or small intestines not able to process waste. If your breath does smell like poop, and you have constipation, it is a good sign that you may have a bowel obstruction.
Fishy Smell
Your kidneys are responsible for producing urine, and they accomplish this by removing toxic chemicals from your blood. When your kidneys become damaged and they no longer filter this waste, toxins begin to accumulate throughout your body, causing a fishy breath smell.
Dental Care and Bad Breath
The majority of the time, bad breath is the result of one of two things, the lack of, or poor, oral hygiene and a poor diet, which also includes smoking. But there are unique smells that might be indicative of a more serious health concern. Your dental team can be your first line of defense in fighting halitosis and treating your overall oral health.
How to Treat Halitosis at Home
If your halitosis is not severe, you could treat it at home with simple remedies that can help reduce your bad breath. Some of these treatments include:
- Brushing your teeth twice a day, two minutes each time.
- Flossing once a day.
- Using mouthwash daily.
- Using a tongue scraper to remove unwanted bacteria and food particles.
- Chewing fresh parsley or mint leaves.
- Chewing sugar-free mint gum.
- Avoiding smoking and any foods that cause your bad breath.
- Drinking plenty of water and adding a mouthwash formulated for dry mouth.
If you are still having issues after trying these at-home treatments, consider setting an appointment for a professional dental cleaning.