Your digestive tract may be the cause of your foul breath if you frequently get heartburn or reflux after eating particular meals, such as dairy and spicy cuisine. These acids may smell sour, which causes gaseous odors to impact your breath.
GERD, or gastroesophageal reflux disease, can cause a person's breath to smell like feces because the stomach acid backs up into the esophagus. This acidic wash irritates the esophagus, which can cause extreme discomfort as well as foul breath.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Persistent acid reflux happens when stomach acid pushes up into the esophagus. This misplaced stomach acid may itself cause bad breath — or, because stomach acid erodes tooth enamel, it can lead to the crevices that trap food.
Yogurt. The healthy bacteria in yogurt, lactobacillus, can help you to fight halitosis, by combatting the bad bacteria in your digestive system. One study showed that after eating yogurt for six weeks, 80% of study participants had a reduction in bad breath. One serving of plain, non-fat yogurt today can do wonders.
If your kidneys are not functioning properly, the toxins your body would typically expel instead build up in your system and those toxins cause your breath to smell. It is often called ammonia breath. The buildup of waste in the blood, uremia, can lead to halitosis.
Postnasal drip, respiratory and tonsil infections, sinus problems, diabetes, liver and kidney issues, as well as certain blood disorders can all cause bad breath. In some rarer cases, bad breath could be a sign of cancer or other serious conditions like metabolic disorders.
Bad breath can occasionally stem from small stones that form in the tonsils and are covered with bacteria that produce odor. Infections or chronic inflammation in the nose, sinuses or throat, which can contribute to postnasal drip, also can cause bad breath.
Halitosis — or bad breath — may be due to poor oral hygiene, but this isn't always the case. It can also occur due to a number of health conditions, including dry mouth, heartburn or even disease in another part of your body. Treatment for halitosis depends on the underlying cause.
The genera Lactobacillus, Streptococcus and Weissella are among the most useful probiotics for the prevention or treatment of halitosis in the oral cavity.
A course of an antibiotic, effective against anaerobic bacteria (such as metronidazole, to reduce the overgrowth of sulphur-producing bacteria), may also help. Speak to your dentist, doctor or chemist to identify the cause of your halitosis and to find the most effective treatment for you.
The only way to 'cure' bad breath caused by the stomach is to identify and treat the root cause. For this reason, if you suspect your halitosis is being caused by a stomach condition, it is important that you talk to your doctor.
Since the odor lies in the lungs, the quick fixes for treating bad breath—brushing, flossing and rinsing with mouthwash—are only temporary solutions. To save your breath, try to limit your intake of garlic, onions, some varieties of fish, and meaty meals.
The research published in the International Journal of Dental Hygiene has shown that drinking or rinsing the mouth with a glass of water helped remove up to 60 per cent of the substances which contribute to bad breath1.
The scent of fetor hepaticus is more distinct and smells like sulfur. It happens as a result of liver disease. Learn more about fetor hepaticus and how to manage the condition.
Everyone also should be aware of other new symptoms, in addition to bad breath, that are possible signs of oral, oropharyngeal (throat) or laryngeal cancer.
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is one possible cause of having an ammonia taste in your mouth, sometimes called “ammonia breath.” Some people describe ammonia breath as having a metallic taste, while others have reported that it smells similar to urine.
Regularly drinking apple cider vinegar will help relieve bad breath, indigestion, and other related stomach ailments. Mix a tablespoon of the vinegar with a glass of water. You can also use fresh fruit juice for extra flavor. Drink before every meal, especially early morning.
Mouth infections can cause bad breath. However, if your dentist has ruled out other causes and you brush and floss every day, your bad breath could be the result of another problem, such as a sinus condition, gastric reflux, diabetes, liver or kidney disease. In this case, see your healthcare provider.
Take a Zinc Supplement
Zinc helps stop the buildup of volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) linked to bad breath. Upping your zinc intake, whether by taking a daily supplement or using a toothpaste or mouthwash with zinc can help reduce foul odors in the mouth.