What Does Halitosis Smell Like?
Halitosis is chronic bad breath that does not resolve with oral hygiene. It can actually be a sign of an underlying medical issue that could need immediate attention. There are different smells of halitosis to be aware of, which can help your dentist determine if it is an oral issue or if you need to see your general practitioner to be tested for other medical conditions.
What does halitosis smell like?
Being able to describe what your breath smells and tastes like can give you some clues to know what is causing it. Unfortunately, there are quite a few types of odor that we need to be aware of in order to know what it may be a sign or symptom of. Some odors you may experience with halitosis include:
- Sweet or fruity: Patients with diabetes can suffer from ketoacidosis, causing sweet-smelling breath. The production of ketones is what causes the fruity odor and can be an indicator of kidney disease or failure.
- Rotten eggs/sulfur: Issues in the digestive tract, like GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), in which stomach acid washes back up to the esophagus, causing damage to the esophageal lining, can cause breath that smells sulfurous.
- Fishy: A fishy smell on your breath can also be linked to kidney disease. When the kidneys are damaged and no longer filter properly, toxins and waste begin to accumulate and can cause that fishy smell on the breath.
- Mold or fungus: A sinus infection can cause a post-nasal drip at the back of the throat, allowing microbes and foreign particles to become trapped and build up in the mucus, causing the breath to smell like mold or fungus. This will typically resolve itself as the sinus infection is treated.
- Fecal: A bowel obstruction can cause a fecal smell on the breath. When the large and small intestines are no longer able to process waste, stool backs up, and anything you eat remains trapped in the digestive tract. As the food in your digestive tract and the stool trapped in your bowels begin to ferment, it can give your breath a fecal smell.
- Decay: Periodontal disease causes a specific odor on the breath that smells like decay. As bacteria invade the gum tissue and eventually the bone structure, those materials essentially begin to die and emit a foul odor that is typically referred to as "perio breath”.
If you have halitosis due to periodontal disease, it can be cleared up with a deep cleaning and improved oral hygiene. Patients who have a history of periodontal issues may be advised to have dental cleanings more than twice a year to keep the mouth healthy.
No matter what type of halitosis you have, it is crucial to your overall health to find the source and to proceed with treatment as soon as possible.