Halitosis – more commonly known as bad breath – can be embarrassing. But what if passing on the onions or garlic doesn’t help? In fact, bad breath can be indicative of a serious medical condition, and not all breath smells the same. Here are five types of bad breath that may merit a visit to your dentist, pronto.
Rotten Egg Smell
Breath that smells of rotten eggs often indicates a problem with the digestive tract. That’s because gut microbiota break down sulfur, releasing that eggy-smelling gas. Causes for this can be Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease or GERD, which occurs when stomach acids creep back up the esophagus, or other digestive concern.
Fruity or Sweet Smell
Ketoacidosis, a complication of diabetes, often presents in the breath having a sweet, fruity odor. The reason is because diabetic patients often suffer from inadequate insulin production that causes the burning of fats and results in the production of ketones. These ketones produce a fruity odor that often resembles acetone. This same odor can be caused by chronic kidney failure, also a symptom of diabetes.
Moldy or Fungus Smell
Sometimes microbial buildups, growths, or infections in the sinuses contribute to breath that smells like mold or fungus. Sinus infections often causes thick, yellowish-green mucus to drip from the nose or sinuses to the back of the throat. As we breathe in and out, an overabundance of microbes, foreign particles, and metabolites build up, causing awful smelling breath.
Fecal Smell
As horrible as it sounds, if your breath smells like feces there is a very high probability you may have a bowel obstruction. A bowel obstruction occurs when stools start to back up, resulting in the large and/or small intestines no longer being able to process waste. Breath that smells like poop combined with constipation is a good sign that you have a bowel obstruction.
Fishy Smell
Kidneys are responsible for creating urine; they do this by removing the toxic chemicals from the blood. When the kidneys become so damaged they no longer can filter this waste, toxins and waste start to accumulate throughout the body; this results in a fishy breath smell.
Dental Care and Bad Breath
Most of the time, bad breath is the result of one of two things – lack of (or poor) oral hygiene and diet (which includes smoking). But there are certain, unique scents that may be indicative of a greater health concern. Your dentist is the first line of defense in the fight against halitosis, and often your general health! If you are in the Twin Cities area, call Hagerman Dental. With more than 35 years of experience, their world-class doctors and friendly staff will have you breathing easy with a gorgeous smile and first-class dental care. Make your appointment online or call Hagerman Dental today at (651) 646-2392!