Bad breath and stomach pain my entire life…?
I have had chronic halitosis, frequent stomach pain/gas/food sensitivities, and strange cravings (most often for olive juice or pickled plums) for my entire life, or as long as I can possibly remember. I also have a tendency toward headaches, migraines, and fatigue.
The stomach issues are usually tolerable, as long as I eat small meals regularly and avoid my "trigger" foods… though I still have gas pretty often….
Anyway the main thing that is bothering me is my bad breath. It has caused a great deal of anxiety and depression for me regarding personal relationships. I find myself pushing away people that are close to me (my mom, my fiance) because the smell makes them so uncomfortable. Or emailing colleagues from my office instead of just talking to them face to face. This really needs to change, but I still have yet to find a solution that actually works.
A little more background info: I am 27 yrs old, female, thin, somewhat muscular, and on the lower side of a healthy BMI. I have a sibling with Crohn’s disease, but I haven’t been diagnosed with it.
I have excellent oral hygiene, in large part because of paranoia about my breath. For example I have never had a cavity in my life. I have reduced my brushing to only 1 or 2 times a day though, as brushing generally makes my breath smell worse. The dentist said the lack of cavities could also be because I have densely mineralized teeth… which I guess could relate to some kind of malabsorption issue.
Breathmints, mouthwashes, and chewing gums also make my breath much much worse. Even just a glass of cold water can make it worse sometimes.
Any suggestions for what I can do about my breath?
Oh and please don’t tell me to "go to the doctor," or "go to the dentist" let’s assume that since I’ve been living with this issue for so long, I have repeatedly gone through the proper channels and am starting to get a little desperate for useful insight on the issue. Thanks!
Filed under: Bad Breath Halitosis
Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!
If you suffer from Halitosis (Persistent Bad Breath) try Oraltech Labs to cure it. Most cases (85–90%), bad breath originates in the mouth, sinus and throat. The intensity of bad breath differs during the day, due to eating certain foods (such as garlic, onions, meat, fish, and cheese), obesity, smoking, and alcohol consumption. Since the mouth is exposed to less oxygen and is inactive during the night, the odour is usually worse upon awakening ("morning breath"). Bad breath may be transient, often disappearing following eating, brushing one’s teeth, flossing, or rinsing with specialized mouthwash.
Causes. 1, Tongue, A common location is the tongue. Tongue bacteria produce malodorous compounds and fatty acids, and account for 80 to 90% of all cases of mouth-related bad breath. Cleaning the tongue. The most widely-known reason to clean the tongue is for the control of bad breath. Methods used against bad breath, such as mints, mouth sprays, mouthwash or gum, may only temporarily mask the odours created by the bacteria on the tongue, but cannot cure bad breath because they do not remove the source of the bad breath. To fix this in order to prevent the production of the sulphur-containing compounds mentioned above, the bacteria on the tongue must be removed, as must the decaying food debris present on the rear areas of the tongue. Most people who clean their tongue use a tongue cleaner (tongue scraper), or a toothbrush.
2. Mouth, There are over 600 types of bacteria found in the average mouth. Other parts of the mouth may also contribute to the overall odour, but are not as common as the back of the tongue. These locations are, in order of descending prevalence: inter-dental and sub-gingival niches, faulty dental work, food-impaction areas in between the teeth, abscesses, and unclean dentures. To fix you will need a dentist to examine your teeth and repair any faults found.
3. Gum disease, advanced periodontal disease is a common cause. Waste products from the anaerobic bacteria growing below the gum line (sub gingival) have a foul smell and have been clinically demonstrated to produce a very intense bad breath. To fix remove the tartar or hard plaque and friable tissue with a soft bristle tooth brush angled on the gum line. This has been shown to improve mouth odour considerably.
4. Nose, in this occurrence, the air exiting the nostrils has a pungent odour that differs from the oral odour. Nasal odour may be due to sinus infections , foreign bodies & commonly Post Nasal Drip. To fix this you will need to flush your sinuses with salt water. It’s very difficult. I recommend Oraltech Labs guidance to properly clear all sinus cavities.
5. Tonsils small bits of calcified matter in tonsillar crypts called tonsilloliths that smell extremely foul when released and can cause bad breath. To fix use warm to hot salt water mix to break the stones down or use a water pic to dislodge them.
6. Stomach, very uncommon source of bad breath. The esophagus is a closed and collapsed tube, and continuous flow (as opposed to a simple burp) of gas or putrid substances from the stomach indicates a health problem—such as reflux serious enough to be bringing up stomach contents or a fistula between the stomach and the esophagus. To fix use Oraltech Labs Guide to cure bad breath caused by GERD & acid reflux..
Management:
1. Gently cleaning the tongue surface twice daily is the most effective way to keep bad breath in control; that can be achieved using a tooth brush, tongue cleaner or tongue brush/scraper to wipe off the bacterial biofilm, debris, and mucus. Scraping or otherwise damaging the tongue should be avoided, and scraping of the V-shaped row of taste buds found at the extreme back of the tongue should also be avoided. Brushing a small amount of antibacterial mouth rinse or tongue gel onto the tongue surface will further inhibit bacterial action.
2. Eating a healthy breakfast with rough foods helps clean the very back of the tongue.
3. Chewing gum: Since dry-mouth can increase bacterial build-up and cause or worsen bad breath, chewing sugarless gum can help with the production of saliva, and thereby help to reduce bad breath. Chewing may help particularly when the mouth is dry, or when one cannot perform oral hygiene procedures after meals.
4. Gargling right before bedtime with an effective mouthwash.
5. Maintaining proper oral hygiene, including daily tongue cleaning, brushing, flossing, and periodic visits to dentists and hygienists. Flossing is particularly important in removing rotting food debris and bacterial plaque from between the teeth, especially at the gum line.
To Your good health, Dr Jane Matthews. M.D, D.D.S
Brush your tongue last and don’t use it again in your mouth until you rinse it with very hot water. After you finish brushing, use a tongue scraper.
your bad breath and stomach pains could be related. things like stomach ulcers can affect many other parts of your body. maybe try and see a more alternative doctor such as a homeopathic one because they might have a different angle on your troubles than just a normal gp.
Ever tried parsley? It is the best breath deodorizer…it removes the smell instead of covering it up with mint. It works for me!
Also, you’ve probably already been down this avenue but it sounds to me like you have stomach ulcers…which often cause stomach problems and horrible breath.
Hope this helps!
All those can be early symptoms of Crohn’s Disease. I’d post your symptoms on http://www.crohnsforum.com (a support forum for people with CD) and see what they think.