Every person is part of society. It is difficult to imagine situations in which we can do without communication, be it communication with friends, colleagues, love relationships, business interviews and much more. You need to look good in any situation, but that’s not all. Your breath odor is very important. It should be fresh and not disgusting. If your breath smells like shit, then this is bad not only from an aesthetic and social point of view, but also indicates the presence of serious health problems. In this article we will indicate the reasons why this phenomenon may occur, and also learn how to get rid of it. Please read the information provided carefully to ensure you are as safe and equipped as possible.
How to test yourself?
Quite often, a person does not even realize that he has an extremely unpleasant odor from his mouth. If your breath smells like shit or another unpleasant odor emanates, this indicates the presence of quite serious and dangerous diseases. So check yourself right now. In any case, there is no need to panic; today almost any pathology can be treated.
So, in order to understand that you have bad breath, follow these steps:
- The simplest, but not free, way is to buy a special device with which you can determine the freshness of your breath.
- The check can be done very simply and trivially. Bring your palm to your mouth and exhale air into it, then smell it.
- Dental floss can also help. Use it, then also bring it to your nose.
- You can ask a loved one to help you. Breathe on him and ask him if his breath smells like shit.
- Also pay attention to the appearance of the tongue. If it is completely white, or there are small white dots on it, then this will indicate the presence of an unpleasant odor almost 100%.
Treatment
Help before diagnosis
Lifestyle, nutrition and hygiene skills play a major role in the treatment of halitosis. To eliminate the physiological causes of unpleasant odor, you need to brush your teeth 2 times a day for at least 3 minutes, and do not forget to clean your tongue of plaque. For oral hygiene, it is necessary to use dental floss and refreshing rinses. To quickly freshen your breath, you can use sugar-free chewing gum.
You need to reduce your consumption of garlic and onions, reduce the amount of spicy meat dishes and red wine. It is advisable to limit your daily coffee consumption to 1-2 cups. Available foods to freshen your breath include apples, carrots, green leafy vegetables. Doctors advise giving up smoking, since the unpleasant smell of cigarette tar cannot be eliminated by any means.
Conservative therapy
If halitosis occurs against the background of drug-induced xerostomia, it is necessary to discontinue or reduce the dose of drugs. There are no specific medications to eliminate unpleasant odor from the mouth. Therefore, therapy comes down to getting rid of its cause. Most often, a person requires qualified dental care. After sanitation of the oral cavity, halitosis disappears.
For gastrointestinal diseases, not only etiotropic treatment is carried out, but also the use of enzyme preparations. Enzyme replacement therapy normalizes digestive processes, eliminates stagnation and fermentation of food. Thanks to this, your breath becomes fresh. For ENT diseases, etiopathogenetic therapy is selected. Emergency conditions are treated in intensive care units.
Treatment of halitophobia is primarily aimed at normalizing the patient’s psycho-emotional state. Psychotherapy sessions are recommended, mild sedatives and tranquilizers are used. People with apparent halitosis are prescribed general measures: careful care of the mouth and teeth, monitoring diet, limiting alcohol consumption.
In what cases is there no reason to worry?
If you're wondering why your breath smells like shit, think about what you recently ate. Very often this happens after the stomach begins to digest food with a specific smell, for example, onions or garlic. This phenomenon will go away on its own in a couple of days. But if you add to all this an alcohol-containing drink with a curd dessert, the smell will be simply incredibly terrible. If this “pleasant aroma” does not disappear within a few days, then this may indicate serious problems with your health.
Can the child himself determine the presence of a problem?
The taste buds on the tongue do not detect odors, and any comment about stale breath from others can upset the baby. If the child is over 5-6 years old, he can be taught several rules for self-diagnosis of oral odors. What is needed for this? You can determine the smell in one of the following ways:
- The child needs to cup his hands and bring them close to his face, so that air space appears between his lips and palms. When you exhale through your mouth, you can feel the smell (if any).
- Use a dry toothbrush to “walk” over your teeth and tongue. There may be some residue left on the bristles of the device. You can smell it just a few seconds after the procedure.
- You should collect the plaque at the root of the tongue with a teaspoon. If there is a specific smell, it will be felt within a few seconds. This procedure can be dangerous if it is carried out by the child himself, so parents can do it for him.
Intestinal diseases create the cause of odor
Breath smells like shit: possible causes
There are several reasons that contribute to the occurrence of strong odor from the mouth. Such reasons are extremely dangerous, as they indicate the presence of diseases. So, most often a child’s breath smells like shit due to diseases of the digestive or respiratory systems, as well as due to pathologies of the oral cavity itself.
The presence of an unpleasant odor is a symptom that should never be ignored.
Note to parents
Halitosis is a pathological condition, the main symptom of which is chronic bad breath. Considering the specificity of a large number of diseases that lead to bad breath in children, doctors recommend finding the causes of such signs yourself. You cannot put off visiting a pediatrician or other specialists for a long time. Bad breath can be a symptom of serious conditions, and every wasted day can affect the progress of treatment.
There are some tricks that are partially attributed to methods of preventing bad breath. These include:
- Consume moderate amounts of protein foods. A large number of amino acids, when absorbed into the intestines, release sulfur elements. Their accumulation leads to bad breath.
- Avoiding sugary drinks. An increased concentration of sugar harms the intestinal microflora and also contributes to the formation of plaque on the mucous membranes of the oral cavity. This also applies to hot drinks - coffee and tea with sugar.
- Moderate consumption of confectionery products. Like sugary drinks, they can become the main cause of bad breath.
Why is this information important for parents to know? With its help, you can protect your child from discomfort in society, especially if he attends classes in educational institutions.
Consultation with a specialist is mandatory
Types of pathologies
Quite often, an unpleasant odor in the mouth appears as a consequence of diseases of the digestive system such as ulcers, gastritis or enteritis. Pathology can also occur due to improper digestion and stagnation of food. There are diseases in which food begins to accumulate in pouches on the walls of the esophagus. This is what makes your breath smell like shit.
The causes of the phenomenon may also be associated with diseases of the respiratory system. The presence of such an unpleasant phenomenon may indicate that the patient has serious pneumonia, which has already acquired a purulent character. Bad breath also indicates serious forms of pneumonia and tuberculosis.
Also, the smell of feces from the mouth occurs if the patient suffers from purulent tonsillitis, sinusitis or other dangerous diseases that affect the throat or nose.
Types of bad mouth odors
Sniffing, trying to catch the nuances of the stench is not a pleasant task. But this is the only way to understand which organ is sending the distress signal. Therefore, if the breath freshness test indicates a problem, think about what the smell resembles.
Putrid smell
Its appearance is provoked by bacteria living both in the oral cavity and in the gastrointestinal tract. In the process of processing food residues, microorganisms release waste products, the main component of which is sulfur compounds. This smell is usually very pungent and can be heard over a fairly long distance.
Rotten egg smell
The smell of rotten eggs or meat in 90% of cases causes advanced periodontitis or extensive carious cavities.
If the dentist does not find the problem, you should look for an answer in the gastroenterologist’s office. It is likely that an unpleasant odor is a signal of a malfunction in the digestive system. Sometimes in this way the body informs its owner about excessive consumption of protein foods. During its breakdown, hydrogen sulfide is formed, which has an odor reminiscent of rotten eggs.
Sour smell
The appearance of an acidic smell may indicate a number of unpleasant pathologies. This is exactly what gastritis, duodenal ulcers and chalazia (esophageal insufficiency) “smell” like. If bad breath is accompanied by heartburn and frequent sour belching, you should visit a gastroenterologist: the examination will certainly reveal problems of the gastrointestinal tract.
Smell of acetone
In adults, it is an invariable companion to diabetes mellitus. May indicate poor functioning of the liver, kidneys and thyroid gland. Sometimes the smell of acetone appears during severe acute respiratory diseases. And almost always when fasting and following low-carb diets. In the latter case, you just need to reduce the consumption of protein and too fatty foods, and the smell will go away.
A special case is the smell of acetone from a child’s mouth. The mother of every 5 baby has encountered it at least once. Acetonemic syndrome is a life-threatening condition that occurs against the background of infections, overwork, and after overeating. It requires immediate medical intervention!
Ammonia smell
Ammonia odor is often caused by taking medications containing amino acids. Sometimes it can even be vitamins. Another common cause is a low-carbohydrate diet, which causes the liver and kidneys to work at their limit. In this case, increasing the amount of fluid you drink, preferably water, can improve the situation.
If you are not fasting, drinking enough fluids, and the smell of ammonia from your breath still haunts you, this is a reason to undergo a comprehensive examination. The cause of the unpleasant odor may be diabetes and kidney disease.
Stool smell
Perhaps the most unpleasant is fecal odor from the mouth. Neither the patient himself nor those around him can ignore it. If this is your first time encountering such a problem, remember whether you had wild garlic, onions or garlic on your table. These products can create real hell for those around you.
If several days have passed after consuming them and the smell remains, you should sound the alarm. The smell of feces from the mouth may be the first symptom of diseases of the nasopharynx and upper respiratory tract, tuberculosis, and disorders of the salivary glands. This is the smell that can be heard from experienced smokers and people who abuse alcohol.
Only a doctor can identify the exact cause of the problem. And sometimes, to eliminate bad breath, you will need to undergo a full examination.
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Pay attention to your teeth
According to dentists, it is problems with the oral cavity that most often lead to bad breath. Diseases such as caries, pulpitis, thrush, stomatitis, periodontal disease and many other ailments can cause an extremely unpleasant odor.
In the first place among all causes is caries. As is known, this pathology occurs as a result of the proliferation of bad bacteria that can destroy tooth enamel. If the disease actively progresses, this leads to the appearance of carious cavities in the tooth, in which quite a large amount of food can accumulate, which gradually begins to rot. It is impossible to clean such a cavity with a toothbrush at home.
Food can also get trapped in pockets in the gums. They cannot be seen with the naked eye, making them extremely difficult to clean. Food that begins to decompose causes your breath to smell like shit. Treatment for such a phenomenon should be based on the cause that caused it. Keep in mind that even if you use mint paste and mouthwash ten times a day, it will not solve your problem. It is very important to take an integrated approach.
Other causes of unpleasant odor
In addition to the reasons already listed, strong breath can be caused by:
- Poor nutrition
. Namely, consuming large quantities of dairy and meat products. Such a diet radically changes the acid-base balance, which serves as a favorable environment for the development of microorganisms that cause an unpleasant odor. You can reduce its intensity by simply adding foods containing carbohydrates to your diet. - Hormonal disbalance
. Any hormonal “swing” immediately affects the quality of saliva. It becomes more viscous, loses oxygen, which in turn contributes to the appearance of stench. - Smoking
. Fans of this addiction should know that the mucous membrane of their oral cavity becomes dry. And with dry mouth comes an unpleasant odor. - Poor quality hygiene products
. Incorrectly selected brushes or pastes can also be the culprit of the problem. The ideal choice is maneuverable brushes with normal stiffness and a mobile head. - Insufficient oral care
. The process of brushing your teeth should occur at least twice a day: in the morning and before bed. - Dentures, veneers, crowns, and even piercings
can also become activators of bad breath. All these items require careful care, as bacterial plaque and food debris constantly accumulate around them and under them.
Solving dental problems
So, if you have halitosis (fecal odor from the mouth), it is very important to first consult a dentist and cure all pathologies associated with diseases of the teeth and gums. Be sure to tell your doctor about the problem that is bothering you. Please note that caries is a fairly common pathology, and quite often it is difficult to notice with the naked eye.
Therefore, do not ignore visits to the dentist, because he will not only be able to help you get rid of oral diseases, but also, if necessary, determine your further actions.
Symptoms of the problem
Sometimes the problem is only in the person's mind. There are several types of problems:
- true halitosis – when an unpleasant odor is noticeable to others;
- pseudohalitosis – the problem is felt when communicating at close range;
- halitophobia – no problem.
Why does my breath smell in the morning?
Bad breath is a deviation that affects the attitude of others towards a person.
In order to get rid of pseudohalitosis, it is enough to observe daily hygiene procedures and use special mouth rinses.
True halitosis with fecal odor is additionally accompanied by the following symptoms:
- intestinal obstruction;
- constipation;
- disruption of intestinal function;
- loss .
Treatment of serious pathologies of the body
If your breath smells like shit, treatment options may vary. It all depends on the origin of such a phenomenon. If the cause of bad breath is the presence of certain diseases of the digestive system, it is very important to get tested and check the acidity of the stomach. Depending on the results obtained, the doctor will be able to select the necessary medications.
If a patient has pathologies of the respiratory organs or respiratory tract, accompanied by the occurrence of inflammatory processes, then in this case one cannot do without antibacterial drugs, which are usually selected on an individual basis, taking into account all the characteristics of a particular person’s body.
Please note that local treatment will not give any results. Of course, you will be able to get rid of the unpleasant odor for a while, but it will be very short-lived. It is very important to eliminate the cause itself, and then the effect will disappear on its own.
Unpleasant smell in the morning
During sleep, all processes in the body, if they do not freeze, then occur much more slowly than during wakefulness. This also applies to the work of the glands responsible for the production of saliva. But this process is one of the most important factors in the fight against bad breath.
During sleep, the volume of saliva production decreases significantly. It becomes insufficient to protect teeth and gums from pathogenic bacteria. As a result, after a few hours of sleep, the concentration of microorganisms increases several times, and their waste products create a not very pleasant odor.
The human oral cavity is home to a huge variety of bacteria. Depending on the species, they can cause the smell of cadaverine and hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan and putrescine. In other words, during the night a whole “bouquet” of terrifying aromas accumulates in the mouth, which makes morning kisses far from the most romantic.
Important Tips
Let's look at what you can do if your breath smells like shit. Dentists will tell us what to do. Such recommendations will help freshen your breath at least for a short time, as well as keep your mouth clean and fresh. Here are some of them:
- Never ignore brushing your teeth. Do this twice every day. Also use dental floss and toothpicks regularly, and don't forget to rinse your mouth with antibacterial products. They eliminate a large number of pathogenic microorganisms.
- Visit your dentist in a timely manner, even if you think you do not have caries. After all, such destruction of tooth enamel is not always noticeable.
- Eat fresh apples regularly. They will not only massage your gums, but also disinfect your mouth.
- If you do not have the opportunity to brush your teeth in the morning or evening, brew black tea and rinse your mouth thoroughly. Dentists also recommend rinsing your mouth every time after eating. This should be done using purified water.
Treatment of bad breath
Osostomy is a serious problem that requires an integrated approach. Therefore, do not be surprised if your dentist recommends using several treatment methods at once:
- Scrapers
. There is nothing much more effective than constantly cleaning the surface of the tongue. Ideally, after every meal. This will help significantly reduce the number of bacteria growing in your mouth. - Rinse aids
. They deal with bacteria much more effectively than chewing gum. But to feel the effect, you need to rinse your mouth for at least 30 seconds. - Toothpastes and gels
. A properly selected toothpaste or gel for cleaning teeth is already half the guarantee of getting rid of odor. - Toothpicks.
The systematic use of these sticks helps to get rid of food particles stuck in the interdental space. - Toothbrushes
. Dentists all over the world recommend using ultrasonic brushes, whose bristles are capable of cleaning the most inaccessible places. - Flosses
. Dental floss is becoming increasingly popular. This is an excellent tool for cleaning the interdental space, which leaves no chance for bacteria.
All of the above methods will be effective only in one case: if there are no teeth damaged by caries in the oral cavity, and the gums are healthy. Therefore, the first thing to do if an unpleasant odor occurs is to undergo complete dental treatment.
Use of traditional medicine methods
If the smell of feces occurs due to inflammatory processes, then they can be eliminated with the help of traditional medicine. However, it is best if such measures are auxiliary.
You can rinse your mouth using mint, oak bark or sage. Such herbs not only perfectly eliminate unpleasant odors, but also relieve inflammation quite well.
You can also use tea tree oil. As you know, such a product has an incredible antibacterial effect. Therefore, add a few drops to a glass of water and rinse your mouth thoroughly before going to bed.
Strawberry and sorrel leaves also have a good effect. Chop the leaves thoroughly and add a glass of boiling water to them. Let the drink brew for several hours, then rinse your mouth with it after eating.
However, do not forget that traditional recipes are not suitable for everyone. Therefore, be sure to consult your doctor before attempting self-treatment.
