smelly breath?
Some diseases could be behind it
Created: 07/04/2022, 12:06 p.m
By: Delia Friess
What are the causes of bad breath?
Often the reasons are harmless, but not always.
Serious illnesses can also be behind it.
Munich – Odor from the mouth can be unpleasant and maybe even annoying.
But what is behind it?
The causes are varied: foods such as garlic or onions are considered anti-inflammatory and healthy, but can also result in bad breath.
But it can also be caused by poor nutrition, dental problems or poor oral hygiene.
However, bad breath odor can also have more serious reasons and indicate illnesses.
According to the Professional Association of German Internists (BDI), several smells from the mouth indicate more serious diseases.
In addition to bad breath, other symptoms can also occur.
If you don't eat for a long time, your breath can smell of acetone due to low blood sugar.
Typically, this is a sweetish-putrid odor.
This is also called "starved acetone".
“This smell occurs when the body uses fat because other energy sources have been used up.
The easiest remedy for this is to eat something," says Dr.
Martin Strauch from the Professional Association of German Internists (BDI)
.
Bad breath: These causes can be behind a smelly breath
If the breath smells of acetone, this can also indicate "diabetic ketoacidosis".
This is a life-threatening consequence of type 1 diabetes.
Too high a blood sugar level and a disturbed lipid metabolism can lead to acidification of the blood (acidosis).
In this case, patients should be treated in an intensive care unit as soon as possible.
Fast action is required: In the worst case, it can lead to a diabetic coma.
Bad breath can have many causes.
(symbol photo) © Jochen Tack via www.imago-images.de
Health: Breath smells like urine?
Kidney problems can be the cause
If the breath smells like urine, there may be a problem with the kidneys.
Because if there is kidney weakness or kidney failure, the kidneys no longer properly filter the pollutants from the blood.
Substances that are normally excreted in the urine pass through the blood to the lungs and are exhaled.
The reasons for a possible kidney weakness or kidney failure can be different, one of the most common causes of chronic kidney failure is also diabetes.
Bad breath?
These causes of bad breath also exist
Bad breath can also have other medical reasons: Stomach or intestinal problems are more rarely the cause.
However, tumors in the esophagus or stomach could allow liquids or gases from the digestive tract to leak into the oral cavity.
These then made themselves felt through an unpleasant odor.
also read
Health speculation: This is how Putin has changed in three decades
How old will I be?
Five blood markers show how your life expectancy really is
A special, sweet odor, on the other hand, can indicate liver failure.
According to
Apotheken Umschau
, this is comparatively rarely the cause of bad breath.
Incidentally, the main reasons for liver failure are poisoning from alcohol, drugs, medication or chemical substances.
The information given in this article is not a substitute for going to a trained and recognized doctor. Only experts can make the right diagnosis and initiate appropriate therapy. The intake of medication or dietary supplements should be discussed with a doctor beforehand.
In most cases, however, bad breath is caused by bacteria in the mouth during the decomposition process of food.
"Especially after consuming dairy products or sweets, bad-smelling substances develop," says the BDI expert.
Brushing your teeth and good oral hygiene can help.
Adequate water intake is also beneficial for a pleasant breath.
(df)
