Bad breath

Bad breath can be very different. It can resemble rotten eggs or rotten meat. But in any case, it brings a lot of inconvenience. That is why it is important to quickly understand what led to the appearance of bad breath and eliminate this problem.

Causes rotten breath

If a person has a rotten smell when he talks or simply breathes through his mouth, this may mean that air containing hydrogen sulfide is coming out of the digestive tract. It is formed during the breakdown of products with a large amount of proteins.

Most scientists believe that bad breath is a dental problem in 90% of cases.

This smell also appears when the patient secretes too little gastric juice. Then the food is retained in the esophagus for a long time and the process of suppuration begins. Often, the banal cause of such an unpleasant odor is constant overeating. The food eaten does not have time to digest and decomposes right in the stomach.

It is not recommended to ignore this problem, especially if you encounter it daily. The fact is that it can be the cause of many diseases:

1. Atrophic gastritis.
2. Stenosis of the pylorus (when the outlet into the stomach narrows).
3. Atony of the stomach due to decreased motor activity (lazy stomach syndrome).

These problems may indicate a number of other diseases, some of which may be quite serious (stomach ulcers, benign or malignant tumors). Common causes of bad breath include:

1. Liver diseases (chronic hepatitis of various etiologies, liver cirrhosis).
2. Diverticula of the esophageal wall.
3. Problems with the gallbladder (chronic cholecystitis, biliary dyskinesia, cholangitis).

That is why it is so important to visit a gastroenterologist in time at the first appearance of a rotten smell. If the smell of rotten meat appears, this usually indicates problems with the liver.

Risk factors

As a rule, bad breath appears in people who are forced to breathe through their mouth for a long time, rather than through their nose (for example, with sinusitis). As a result, the oral cavity dries out, which causes an unpleasant odor.

If you do not take care of your oral hygiene and often overeat, this can also lead to the appearance of an unpleasant odor. As a result, microorganisms accumulate in the mouth, releasing gases that smell bad, and the food that remains in the stomach and begins to rot only increases the effect.

People who are constantly on diets, as well as those who suffer from anorexia, often have bad breath because they eat improperly.

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Symptoms rotten breath

If you or someone close to you has a rotten meat smell coming from your mouth, this usually indicates liver problems. Very often, other symptoms also occur:

1. The patient's urine begins to darken.
2. The sclera is stained with a yellowish tint.
3. On the contrary, the feces become colorless.

When eggs smell rotten, patients often experience abdominal pain, diarrhea, or, conversely, constipation.

Rotten egg smell from mouth

This unpleasant problem occurs when air filled with hydrogen sulfide begins to rise from the stomach. This can also cause belching with a distinct unpleasant "aroma". As a rule, such a smell appears if a person constantly eats fried or boiled eggs.

Of course, if such a smell is felt not from time to time, but constantly, then this may indicate quite serious health problems. Usually, the smell of rotten eggs can appear if the patient has stagnation of food in the stomach (for all sorts of reasons). That is, the stomach simply cannot digest food, which after some time begins to ferment.

For example, the smell of rotten eggs from the mouth appears with chronic atrophic gastritis with low acidity, when food is digested for too long, which leads to the appearance of ammonia and hydrogen sulfide, which comes out of the stomach. Usually the smell intensifies during periods of exacerbation of the disease. In this case, other symptoms such as:

1. Bloating.
2. Vomiting or nausea.
3. Stomach pain.

The smell of rotten eggs may also be caused by an insufficient amount of enzymes (which take part in digestion) and hydrochloric acid.

To combat the problem, it is necessary, first of all, to treat the disease that caused it. If you notice the first signs of gastritis or another similar disease, you should immediately contact a specialist.

Bad breath in a child

A rotten smell can appear not only in adults, but also in children. Usually, this is caused by improper oral hygiene, but there are also a number of quite serious diseases in which this symptom appears.

The causes of bad breath in a child can be divided into several types:

1. Extraoral.
2. Oral.
3. Psychogenic.

Extraoral causes of bad breath:

1. Diseases associated with the duodenum, esophagus or stomach.
2. Mucus containing large amounts of bacteria that is found in the sinuses.
3. Decomposition of food debris that gets stuck in the cavities of the tonsils.
4. Liver failure.

Causes of bad breath in the mouth:

1. Poor oral hygiene, which leads to food debris getting trapped between the teeth.
2. Frequent runny noses, which cause dry mouth.
3. Fungal diseases of the mouth.
4. Gum problems: periodontitis, periodontosis, gingivitis.

Sometimes parents after reading some medical articles start thinking that their child has bad breath. This is the main psychogenic reason.

To prevent your child from having bad breath, you need to teach him to brush his tongue and teeth every day. If the mouth is too often dry, you can drink more water. Try to take your child to the dentist more often.

The smell of rotten meat from the mouth

Most often, the smell of rotten meat from the mouth appears if a person has problems with the liver. Here, it is also worth paying attention to other symptoms and the first signs of diseases. Acute liver damage, in which an unpleasant odor often appears, usually appears after a viral infection, due to frequent use of alcoholic beverages or certain medications.

If you notice that you have a rotten smell of meat in your mouth, you should immediately contact a gastroenterologist.

Diagnostics rotten breath

During diagnostics, the specialist must analyze the patient's complaints and prescribe several important examinations to the patient that will help determine the cause of the rotten smell. Among the most popular examinations, the following should be highlighted:

1. Blood tests.
2. Ultrasound of the liver and pancreas.
3. Fibrogastroduodenoscopy.

After all the necessary studies have been carried out, the doctor prescribes the optimal treatment.

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Tests

Doctors usually recommend a general and biochemical blood test, which will help to establish the presence of certain diseases. A general stool test (coprogram) is also performed. It will help to see if there are undigested food fragments in the stool. Among the tests, the following can also be distinguished:

1. Biochemical blood test with liver function tests.
2. Stool analysis.
3. Analysis of gastric contents.

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Instrumental diagnostics

The most popular methods of instrumental diagnostics of bad breath are:

1. Irrigoscopy.
2. EGDS (gastroscopy) – the walls of the esophagus, duodenum and stomach are examined. During the procedure, a special device (gastroscope) is inserted into the stomach.
3. Ultrasound – helps to see if there are any tumors in the abdominal area.
4. Radioisotope diagnostics.
5. Radiography.

Treatment rotten breath

If the patient is diagnosed with low acidity, he will be prescribed medications that increase the acidity of the stomach. In addition, in such cases, you will have to review your daily diet, adding products that help the secretion of juice: lemon, chicken broth, nuts, apples, pickles.

If the cause of the bad breath is banal overeating, you just need to normalize your diet. If you follow a special diet for at least two months, the problem should disappear.

If an unpleasant odor occurs infrequently, you can try taking various medications (Smecta, Mezim, Pancreatin, Festal, activated carbon).

There are also special measures that must be followed at all times:

1. Chew greens such as parsley and mint throughout the day.
2. Drink as much water as possible.
3. Try to rinse your mouth with water as often as possible.
4. You should always brush not only your teeth, but also your tongue.
5. It is better to start breakfast with oatmeal.
6. Maintain a proper diet.
7. Add vegetables and fruits to your diet.

Medicines

Phosphalugel. An antacid, the active ingredient of which is aluminum phosphate. Helps neutralize hydrochloric acid, also has an adsorbing and enveloping effect. It is taken to treat gastritis, chronic gastritis, and also helps to eliminate bad breath, if it appears due to this disease.

The standard dosage is one to two sachets three times a day. If infants (up to six months) need to be treated, the recommended dosage is 4 g (1 teaspoon) after each feeding, but not less than 6 times a day.

Before use, the contents of the package should be well crushed (through a closed package) so that the powder takes the form of a gel. Make a cut in a special place and carefully pour the gel through the hole. The drug can be diluted in a glass of water.

The only side effect that can be noted is possible constipation. The product is contraindicated in case of intolerance to the components, liver dysfunction.

Mezim Forte. An enzyme preparation containing pancreatin with minimal enzyme activity (amylase, lipase and protease). The preparation is taken to facilitate digestion. The dose is determined individually. It depends on how much digestion is impaired. Usually one or two tablets are recommended before eating.

The main side effects of taking the drug are constipation, nausea, and allergies. The drug is contraindicated in pancreatitis, especially chronic.

Parodontotsid. A preparation with an analgesic, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effect. It is available in the form of a mouthwash solution for gum inflammation (which can cause bad breath). Rinse the mouth twice a day (morning and evening). To do this, add 15 drops of the solution to a third of a glass of water. Do not swallow.

The main side effects of the drug include: contact eczema, allergy. The drug is contraindicated during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Asepta. A modern remedy used to treat gum inflammation. It is available in the form of napkins that have the shape of a fingertip. To use, open one sachet, put the napkin on your finger, remove the special protective film from it, and thoroughly wipe your tongue, gums, teeth, and cheeks (inside). The fingertip is disposable. The active ingredients are plant extracts.

It is recommended to brush your teeth with fingertips at least twice a day. Contraindicated in case of intolerance to the components.

Traditional and herbal medicine

Please note that folk medicine only helps to reduce or mask the bad breath, but does not cure the underlying problem.

1. You can chew aromatic spices (parsley, cloves, fennel seeds, bay leaves, juniper berries).
2. You can clean your teeth and reduce odor by eating an apple. It will also help improve intestinal peristalsis.
3. With the help of weak decoctions of medicinal plants: sage, chamomile, lemon balm, strawberry leaves, thyme.

Homeopathy

In our country, homeopathic remedies have become popular only recently, so they cause mixed feelings in patients. But if you have bad breath, such drugs can help.

If the rotten smell is caused by a throat disease, you can use Aconite, Belladonna, Argentum nitricum, Bryonia, Mercurius solubilis, Capsicum.

In case of tonsillitis, you can get rid of the rotten smell with the help of: Baryta carbonica, Kali mureaticum, Hepar sulfur, Phytolacca.

Prevention

In order to never face the problem of bad breath, you need to carefully monitor your oral hygiene. Brush your teeth and tongue every morning and evening. You also need to review your daily diet and add fresh vegetables and fruits to the menu. Try not to drink water during meals, chew food thoroughly and slowly, and do not overeat. Do not sit down at the table if you have no appetite.

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Forecast

With timely diagnosis and proper treatment of bad breath, the prognosis is favorable.

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