Really Bad Breath

[Zandy595]

Has anyone ever had bad breath that actually smelled like a skunk. Someone in my family (I won't mention who, so he/she won't get upset if they see this) has had really bad breath for about two weeks straight. This person has had this skunk breath before when they were sick (cold), but he/she isn't showing any other symptoms of having a cold. He/she is always using Listerine breath strips, but it doesn't seem to help. What could it be? I wonder if it's something that should be treated or if it will go away on it's own. They are very worried about what other people think.

 

[ElizK]

Does that person still have his/her tonsils? Could be a tonsil infection.

 

[Todd&Copper]

Has this person been to the dentist in the past year? Do they have gastro-intestinal issues?

 

[Zandy595]

Yes, they still have tonsils, no sore throat though.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

An infected tooth can let out a horrible odor and taste. Before I had my wisdom teeth pulled, I had that problem. I was constantly chewing gum.

Also, is it possible that the person is a closet smoker? One of my sisters smokes and her breath is atrocious.

 

[stinkerbelle's mom]

I was going to say it could be a sign of a bad tooth. If nothing else they might need to start brushing their tongue. Let the dentist make that call!

 

[Zandy595]

Has this person been to the dentist in the past year? Do they have gastro-intestinal issues?

Yes, less than a year ago. No GI issues.

 

[perdidobay]

See if any of these causes fit..
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bad-breath/DS00025/DSECTION=2

 

[Zandy595]

OK, I'm just going to come out and say it and hope he doesn't get mad. It's my 12 year old DS. I'm pretty sure he's not smoking, he's really against it and would have no way of hiding the smell. I'm ALWAYS home and always there when he comes in from playing outside.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

OK, I'm just going to come out and say it and hope he doesn't get mad. It's my 12 year old DS. I'm pretty sure he's not smoking, he's really against it and would have no way of hiding the smell. I'm ALWAYS home and always there when he comes in from playing outside.

Oh, I guess that can be ruled out then!

I don't remember the name for this, but my oldest daughter had some sort of tonsil issue. Her tonsils are huge to begin with, but in little pockets, white stuff was forming. I know it sounds nasty, but it made her breath smell horrible.

The only solution was a tonsillectomy, but she refused to have it done. For some reason, as mysteriously as it appeared, it went away on its own.

Whatever it was, it was visible.

That's the end of my armchair doctor skills! That's all I have!

 

[CathrynRose]

OK, I'm just going to come out and say it and hope he doesn't get mad. It's my 12 year old DS. I'm pretty sure he's not smoking, he's really against it and would have no way of hiding the smell. I'm ALWAYS home and always there when he comes in from playing outside.

Are you *sure* he's really brushing well? I know both my boys brushing is rather quick and unefficient.

For a few years now, all of us rinse with Peroxide pre-brush, and use Arm & Hammer Baking Soda and Peroxide toothpaste, which makes all our teeth whiter and breath fresher.

Side Note - my girlfriend said when she was a dental tech she learned that skunk / poop smell from the mouth meant the person could be / was constipated. Does he ever have probelms with this?

 

[lovetomow]

Perhaps they prefer roadkill for breakfast and the taste just lingers all day!

 

[phamton]

Does he have allergies or had a cold lately. Sinus infection can cause very bad breath. http://www.medhelp.org/forums/RespiratoryDisorders/messages/1395.html

 

[Mellie2162]

My dads breath smells like this all the time. Weve all noticed it but none of us can seem to bring ourselves to tell him. Its nasty and makes us all gag a little because hes the type when he talks to you that he has to get really close.

 

[SpecialK]

I think it's typical of the age - a combo of hormones, a funky diet and inefficient brushing. When I taught jr. high, I spent a lot of time holding my breath. My 12 year old was having a problem with this, too. I got him Aqua-Fresh toothpaste (minty but it doesn't burn his mouth) and got him brushing his tongue. It's made a huge difference.

 

[Zandy595]

Are you *sure* he's really brushing well? I know both my boys brushing is rather quick and unefficient.

For a few years now, all of us rinse with Peroxide pre-brush, and use Arm & Hammer Baking Soda and Peroxide toothpaste, which makes all our teeth whiter and breath fresher.

Side Note - my girlfriend said when she was a dental tech she learned that skunk / poop smell from the mouth meant the person could be / was constipated. Does he ever have probelms with this?

He's never had a cavity and IMO takes too long to brush his teeth. It's kind of a strange thing in our family, but we don't stand over the sink when we brush. We're always walking around the house doing something or in DS's case watching tv. I guess that doesn't necessarily mean he's doing a good job though.

He doesn't have any constipation issues.


I was planning on making a dentist appointment for him anyway, but I just wanted to see if anyone had any ideas we hadn't thought of.

 

[Zandy595]

Does he have allergies or had a cold lately. Sinus infection can cause very bad breath. http://www.medhelp.org/forums/RespiratoryDisorders/messages/1395.html

He's never been officially tested for allergies, but DH is allergic to everything, so it's possible. He hasn't had a cold lately, but did have this funky breath before when he was sick. Thanks for the link.

 

[Zandy595]

I just thought of something... this might have nothing at all to do with it, but this bad breath started around the same time he started taking yogurt to school for lunch. He's been eating it three times a week. I wonder if that could have anything to do with it.


ETA: I did a search for yogurt and bad breath and found out that yogurt can actually help get rid of it, so I guess that's not it.

 

[DisneyJules]

There's these nasty little things that form in the back of the tonsils called "tonsil" stones. I know in some people, they are aggravated by eating dairy. I get them and they're a real pain! So I check my tonsils every morning and if there's any white little things sticking to my tonsils, I have to remove them. It can be difficult, because they form in the cavity of the tonsil. It's basically, a combination of food and tissue that breaks down with a sulphur compound, giving them a horrible smell! Check his tonsils and see if there's anything there. I read a while back on the web that in some people, if they stopped eating dairy, they went away. For me, this isn't the case but I can keep on top of them so they that they don't cause a problem.

 

[kaf7878]

Check his tonsils for "tonsil stones". I get these occasionally as well and remove them myself with the back end of a tooth brush. They literally smell like poop. Its totally disgusting.