Bad breath is not just an inconvenience that can turn others away from you. An unpleasant smell can be a symptom of various diseases. Therefore, neither mouthwashes, nor chewing gum, nor lozenges will help, as they do not eliminate the cause. It can only be identified during a dental appointment. Aram Davydyan — a dentist-surgeon, implantologist, orthopedic dentist, orthodontist, helped us understand the issue.
Bad Breath Due to Teeth and Gums
This symptom most often occurs in the following cases:
1. Inflammation, Purulent Processes
The classic case is, of course, deposits, tartar, inflammation. "There are smells that speak directly. They arise where life has stopped — in stagnation, in plaque, in destroyed tissues. When soft deposits accumulate on the teeth and tongue, and tartar forms under the gums, active life begins in the microscopic world: millions of anaerobic bacteria break down proteins and release hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan, ammonia. This is how that rotten smell appears — dense, viscous, with a sweetish tint," explains the expert.
Gums become loose, bleed, and pus may be released when pressed. Such symptoms can no longer be called "a minor problem" — this is inflammation that erodes ligaments, bone, and soft tissues. And the longer it lasts, the stronger the smell — sometimes it is so persistent that mouthwashes, mint, or coffee cannot mask it. This is a signal from the body that treatment is needed.
2. Dysbiosis
"The tongue and palate are also important — a mirror of the internal microclimate of the oral cavity. A healthy tongue is pink, moist, with a slight white coating. When it becomes heavily coated, especially at the root — this is a sign of dysbiosis," says the dentist.
Yes, it turns out that dysbiosis can occur not only in the stomach. Microorganisms deprived of oxygen release sulfur compounds — hence that rotten or metallic taste.
3. Insufficient Hygiene
Sometimes the smell comes not from the teeth, but from the back third of the tongue, where bacteria live that are not afraid of a toothbrush. Therefore, it is necessary to clean not only the teeth but also the tongue with a special scraper — this is not a whim, but part of prevention and therapy.
4. Upper Respiratory Tract Diseases
Problems with the tonsils are less common but no less significant. "In the depths of the tonsils, plugs accumulate — small, dense, with a sharp smell of sulfur and protein. The patient brushes their teeth, rinses their mouth, but the smell remains. Because the cause is not in the teeth or tongue, but in the respiratory system," says the doctor.
Non-obvious Causes of Smell
Sometimes the smell comes from within and does not depend on the condition of the dental system. "Essentially, the mouth is a window into metabolism. What is felt as a smell is not food residues, but a product of biochemistry, metabolism, hormones, microflora, and emotions," assures our expert.
Cause 1. Stomach and Digestion
If the stomach is inflamed, especially with gastritis with low acidity, food gets stuck, and fermentation begins. Air with a characteristic rotten-sulfur or sour smell rises from the gastrointestinal tract.
"And when Helicobacter pylori lives in the mucosa, the smell becomes musty, warm, with a metallic tint — it cannot be eliminated by toothpaste or mouthwash because the cause is deeper," emphasizes the dentist.
Cause 2. Diabetes
The smell of acetone or sweet fruits is the first signal that the body is burning fat instead of glucose. Pay attention to dryness in the mouth, cracks, slow healing of wounds, sticky saliva. As our expert says, this is not just a smell — "this is the chemistry of elevated blood sugar, which literally 'breathes' through the mouth."
Cause 3. Liver and Kidneys
A bad smell may indicate problems with these organs. When the liver cannot cope with processing toxins, the breath becomes sweetish-rotten, warm, heavy. And with impaired kidney function, an ammonia smell appears, reminiscent of ammonia.
Cause 4. Stress and Lack of Sleep
Negatively affect our health. "In people living in chronic tension, breathing becomes shallow, and saliva becomes thick. Cortisol constricts blood vessels, immunity weakens, bacteria multiply. A smell of dry metal appears — barely perceptible, but persistent," notes the doctor.
Cause 5. Diets and Fasting
Fashionable cleansing practices often end not only with the loss of extra pounds but also with foul breath. When the body lacks carbohydrates, it begins to break down fats, producing ketones — those very substances that give breath a sweetish-acetone smell. For the dentist, this is not a mystery, but information that the body has switched to economy mode.
Cause 6. Hormonal Fluctuations
In different phases of the cycle, women may experience changes in smell — due to dryness and changes in acidity. It is not sharp, slightly noticeable, "pharmaceutical" with a hint of sterility. Everything passes when the balance of hormones and moisture of the mucosa is restored.
If you notice that your breath has stopped being fresh, do not try to mask the problem with coffee or mint gum. The smell is not an enemy, but a hint. It warns of diseases, metabolic disorders, or simply that you are living on the edge and it is time to rest. It can be said that the properties of exhaled air reflect a person's internal state. By analyzing this data, a specialist will suggest what to pay attention to and provide useful recommendations for maintaining health.
