Bad Breath Odors and What They Mean

Do you have bad breath, or know someone who does? If so, have you ever thought anything about the foul odors that come from the mouth, other than the fact that they smell terrible? It may surprise you and others to know that the odors you or others experience with bad breath can be indicative or symptomatic of a medical condition or illness. This article will briefly cover a few distinct smells and what they may mean for your health.

We usually think that there is just one standard stinky breath odor: a bad one. We know that bad breath is disgusting, but most of us do not take the time to really investigate or get a good whiff of it in order to figure out more about it. Instead, we try to get as far away from the bad smell as we can - and rightfully so! But believe it or not, figuring out the specific properties, scents, and aromas of the bad breath can actually be important to diagnosing a medical condition that you may not even know exists.

A good example of this is with diabetes. Diabetes, to put it simply, produces acetone, which results in a condition known as acetonuria. The body gets rid of this excess acetone in one way by expelling it through exhaling via the mouth. The odor that is given off by this condition is a distinct, fruit and "sweet" smell. If your bad breath has a fruity odor to it - and it is not from fruit drinks, eating food, or chewing gum - then it is possible that you may have acetonuria and diabetes mellitus.

Another example is with chronic kidney failure. Your kidneys process waste from the blood, which then goes into urine. Ammonia is a by-product of this process and is expelled from your body when you urinate. If your kidneys are not functioning properly, then ammonia can build up in your body and reach toxic levels. Your breath may also have a distinct, sour ammonia smell. Thus, if you notice someone with bad breath that frequently smells like ammonia, there could be problems with their kidneys that need to be evaluated.

Yet another example of this comes with bowel problems, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), bowel obstructions, or other conditions. If one's stinky breath has a distinct fecal smell, or otherwise smells like waste or garbage, then this could be indicative of a serious gastrointestinal disorder. Those with Crohn's disease, a very serious chronic gastrointestinal disorder, can also have this type of breath.

In short, if you or someone you know has a distinct bad breath odor, a visit to the doctor may be in order (especially if it does not go away). Of course, if your breath smells like garlic, chances are you eat too much garlic! Just keep an eye - and a nose - out for bad breath to hopefully prevent a bad condition.