Halitosis, commonly called bad breath, is often embarrassing. You skipped the onions or garlic, and it still did not help? Bad breath can be indicative of a medical condition, and not all bad breath has the same odor. Here are five different versions of bad breath that require scheduling a visit to your dentist soon.
Rotten Egg Smell
If your breath smells like rotten eggs, it might indicate an issue with your digestive tract. This is because gut microbiota breaks down sulfur, releasing that egg-smelling gas. Reasons for this could be Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease or GERD, which is when your stomach acids creep back up the esophagus, or other digestive issues.
Fruity or Sweet Smell
Ketoacidosis, an issue related to diabetes, usually has a sweet, fruity odor on the breath. The cause is usually because if you have diabetes, you suffer from inadequate insulin production, which is needed to create the burning of fat, resulting in the production of ketones. These ketones produce a fruity odor that smells like acetone. This odor may also be the result of chronic kidney failure, also a diabetes symptom.
Moldy or Fungus Smell
Sometimes microbial buildups, or infections in your sinuses, can contribute to your breath that smells like fungus or mold. Sinus infections often create thick, yellowish mucus that drips from your nose or sinuses to the back of your throat. As you breathe, an overabundance of these microbes, foreign particles, and metabolites accumulates and builds up, causing bad breath, or halitosis.
Fecal Smell
As nasty as it may sound, if your breath smells like feces, there is a high probability that you have a bowel obstruction. A bowel obstruction happens when stools begin to back up, resulting in your small or large intestines not being able to process waste. If your breath smells like feces, and you have constipation, it is a good sign that you have a bowel obstruction.
Fishy Smell
Your kidneys are responsible for producing urine, and they do so by removing toxic chemicals from your blood. When your kidneys experience damage and they no longer filter this waste, toxins begin to accumulate throughout your body, resulting in a fishy breath smell.
Dental Care and Bad Breath
Most of the time, bad breath is the result of one of two simple things: poor oral hygiene and a poor diet, which also includes smoking. There are unique smells that may be indicative of a more serious health concern. Your dental team may be your first line of defense in both fighting halitosis and treating your overall oral health.
How to Treat Halitosis at Home
If your halitosis is not appalling, you might treat it at home with simple remedies that will help reduce your bad breath. Some of these treatments include:
- Brushing your teeth twice a day for two minutes each time.
- Flossing once a day.
- Using mouthwash daily.
- Use a tongue scraper to remove any buildup of bacteria and food particles.
- Chew some fresh parsley or mint leaves.
- Chewing sugar-free mint gum.
- Avoid smoking and foods that cause bad breath.
- Drinking an ample amount of water and using a mouthwash formulated for dry mouth.
- Visit your dentist for gum disease treatment.