Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Cells, Microbes & Viruses => Topic started by: thedoc on 18/09/2012 10:30:01

Title: What causes chronic bad breath (halitosis)?
Post by: thedoc on 18/09/2012 10:30:01
Naresh  asked the Naked Scientists:
   
I am suffering from chronic halitosis for the past 20 years. I had tried several medication in vain. My dental conditions are healthy. The odour smelling like fecal matter comes from my throat and travels a much longer distance. I do not have tonsil stones or post nasal drip kind of problems.I feel metallic taste in my mouth and white coating on my tongue.

Due to this killer problem my life has become hell and suffering from chronic depression. Please for god sake help me get rid this this. You will be a god granting me life again.

Indebtor for life.

What do you think?
Title: Re: What causes chronic bad breath (halitosis)?
Post by: goodwill on 16/01/2013 00:14:38
Hi there!
How are things with you?

First, you need to know that I am not a scientist or have I studied science beyond the high school level.  However, I just wanted to drop you a note about my own story of chronic bad breath, and offer a suggestion for you.

My story:
I am now 29 years old.  My bad breath program started when I was 15 years old.  Between 15 to 21 years old, the bad breath was on and off.  When I was 21 all the way to 28 years old I had really bad breath.  I mean it was so bad at one point; when I talked the smell was in the air.  At that time I was in school and I remembered many students dropped out because of my bad smell...so I now your pain, to some degree.  So at 22 I went to a dentist that also did bad breath treatment.  I got put on antibiotic rinses, etc.  I also tried special toothpaste and mouth rinses, and I chewed special gum (therabreath brand) a lot, but nothing was of used.  A few years later, at 26 years old, I remembered that dentist told me that chronic bad breath could be symptoms of some kind of health problem.  All these time, I denied that I had any health problems because in truth I was "healthy".  But I went to my family doctor to get everything check anyway.  I got blood test...basically everything tested, including a SKIN ALLERGY TEST.  The only things of concern were my low iron count and my allergy to dust and pollen (just mildly).  Other than that I'm healthy!  No liver problem, no lung problem, etc.  A year later I went to visit a naturopathic doctor that had extensive knowledge on nutrition and digestive problems.  Although my work with the family doctor showed that I have healthy organs, I was still suffering from abdominal pain, gas, and heart burn.  Something else about my history that made my go to the naturopathic doctor was because when I was 17 I had terrible pain in my stomach (the family doctor just give me antibiotic and it went away), but at 19 the same pain came back (again antibiotic), and again at 21 the same pain came back (again antibiotic).  After that, that pain never came back again.  But my eating habits had changed after 21...I became a vegetarian.  I guessed, not eating bread, etc helped a little.  Little did I know, I have allergies to gluten, wheat, and soy!  My naturopathic doctor and I did an ALLERGY BLOOD TEST and we found out the foods I was allergic to.  I went on a special diet for 6 months.  Slowly my bad breath got milder and my mind became clearer!  So I stayed away from the food I'm allergic to and amazingly no more abdominal pain, no more heart burn, no more mental fogginess, etc.  Now I don't even have to chew gum!   I can save my money!  My breath is not one hundred percent because during my treatment I cheated a lot (eating cake etc).  But I stopped doing that because every time I did my abdominal pain came back and also was my bad breath.  So when I get the occasionally cravings to eat sweets so I just go to the gluten free bakeries.  I vowed to take care of my digestive health because I know that without it and without my fresh breath I can't truly live my life. 

My suggestion:
Please go visit a caring doctor to help you take a history of your health and who truly cares about healing you.  A lot of the work was own my own reflection and paying attention to my body as I knew my doctor was only there to help me not do everything for me.  We were a team, but she was the right teammate!  I had a hard time deciding what kind of doctor to go to.  Should I see a chinese doctor, a homeopathic doctor, or  a naturopathic doctor?  After some reading up on those info., I chose a naturopathic doctor because I heard that they were very caring and they practiced differently than the family doctors that I knew.  Also I chose the doctor that had knowledge on digestive problem because of my own digestive symptoms.  I'm thankful that she was a good choice.
I think that your well-being and your life are worth the try!

Take care and email me if you have any thoughts.
Hanh
Title: Re: What causes chronic bad breath (halitosis)?
Post by: goodwill on 16/01/2013 00:19:23
"The odour smelling like fecal matter comes from my throat and travels a much longer distance. I do not have tonsil stones or post nasal drip kind of problems.I feel metallic taste in my mouth and white coating on my tongue." .......I had those same problems, except for the post nasal drip (probably because of the allergies as I don't have it anymore).

I wish you good luck on your journey.
Please let me know how things go, if you want to.
Title: Re: What causes chronic bad breath (halitosis)?
Post by: RD on 16/01/2013 03:17:09
May want to have a look at ...

Quote
Trimethylaminuria [TMAU] and Fecal Body Odor [FBO] syndrome
http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=45649.msg397385#msg397385
Title: Re: What causes chronic bad breath (halitosis)?
Post by: confusious says on 17/05/2013 09:19:36
The most common cause of bad breath is not the food you eat, it is gum decease, I suggest you attend a dentist and see a hygenist.
Title: Re: What causes chronic bad breath (halitosis)?
Post by: HelperCat on 02/09/2013 09:42:47
OK, the nightmare is at an end for all you long-suffering victims of bad breath :

Stop eating GREENS ... any greens at all.
Go on - try it for three days, but you'll notice your bad breath gone tomorrow.

Worst offender is brocolli - but it might appear that there's something in chlorophyll (or associates) that's responsible.

White and yellow tongue-coatings have nothing to do with bad breath - it's what's put in the gut that's the problem.

Now get out there and enjoy your new life!
Title: Re: What causes chronic bad breath (halitosis)?
Post by: Szostak on 21/09/2013 09:41:53
I got a similar problem, though my dental situation isn't that good, i've never seen a dentist, but the reason i have bad breath seems to be my lack of saliva, dehydration and caseum (disgusting), perhaps there's not enough food in my stomach either.

It's been quite a long time this thread is open, any upgrade on your situation @thedoc?
Title: Re: What causes chronic bad breath (halitosis)?
Post by: gersalo on 14/11/2013 18:34:23
thedoc
Just want to know about your progress because I got the same situation like you are......
Title: Re: What causes chronic bad breath (halitosis)?
Post by: blackhorse on 04/11/2015 07:58:48
You must have got sore tooth. What does the dentist say about your case?