Apples or ammonia? What does unusual breath odor indicate?

Main nuances

“Bad breath is scientifically called “halitosis.” It can be physiological and pathological. In the first case, they usually talk about the “aroma” that appears in the morning and disappears after morning hygiene procedures. In the second case, the appearance of such a symptom has certain medical reasons,” says Evgenia Parshina. As the immunologist notes, smoking can, for example, influence the appearance of bad breath.

Among the main causes of halitosis is poor oral hygiene, when a person does not properly care for his teeth. It can also be caused by tooth decay or plaque on the tongue. The problem can also appear, as the immunologist notes, with chronic tonsillitis.

Question answer

Why does my breath smell bad in the morning? Also often the problem is caused by diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, for example a disease such as GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). Another reason could be the presence of Helicobacter pylori bacillus in the human body, says the immunologist.

Unpleasant odors from the mouth can be felt by a person suffering from diseases of the nasal cavity, which are accompanied by postnasal drip, as well as swelling of the mucous membranes and inflammation of the adenoids in children. “In children, by the way, an unpleasant smell from the nose can also appear against the background of foreign objects in the nose, which can remain in the nasal cavity for a long time,” says Evgenia Parshina.

Diagnostics

Smell from under the crown of a tooth

A person can independently determine halitosis. There are several methods for diagnosing at home:

1. Place a small paper napkin under your tongue for a few minutes. After time has passed, the smell of the material is assessed.
2. Lick the skin on the wrist and after a few seconds evaluate the odor on the test area.
3. Hands are cupped near the mouth and air is exhaled through the mouth. The quality of exhaled air is assessed by olfactory receptors. Instead of palms, you can use dishes (a plate or glass).

If you notice a stale odor on your breath, you should immediately contact your dentist. He will determine the cause of the violation using a set of diagnostic measures:

• assessing the symptoms of the disease and the patient’s lifestyle;
• examination of the oral cavity;
• gastroscopy;
• CT and MRI;
• radiography;
• stool, blood and urine tests.

The photo shows the gastroscopy procedure

Based on the test results, a consultation with specialized specialists is scheduled: cardiologist, gastroenterologist, endocrinologist, urologist. Instrumental and laboratory diagnostic methods are prescribed depending on the patient’s condition and his complaints.

Diabetes

For example, Evgenia Parshina notes that with diabetes, a person can smell a fruity or apple aroma from himself. A similar manifestation is observed when following, for example, a keto diet. The smell of diabetes is quite characteristic, it is similar to the aroma of soaked, fermented apples and resembles acetone. In people suffering from diabetes, there is a sharp increase in blood glucose levels, and ketone bodies begin to be released. Under starvation conditions, cells begin to actively use fats and proteins, including those stored for future use by the body, and when they break down, acetone begins to appear.

general information

Olfactory hallucinations (phantosmia) are a condition in which a person perceives non-existent odors, which can be both pleasant and disgusting. As a rule, there is a tendency to feel unpleasant odors: burning, rotten fish, etc. Phantosmia may be constantly present or appear periodically and then disappear.

Along with olfactory hallucinations, there are parosmia - conditions in which the patient perceives a distorted odor from a real object. For example, some patients after Covid complain of smells of “rot” or “carrion” from quality products. The patients’ relatives do not feel anything like that, but “hear” the aroma that should normally come from the dish.

Kidney problems

“Another chronic disease that can lead to the appearance of an unusual odor is kidney failure,” says Evgenia Parshina. Thus, with diseases of the urinary system, for example nephrosis, pyelonephritis, etc., manifestations of the smell of ammonia may be observed. Usually this kind of smell appears already in the terminal stage. The mechanism by which the odor appears is that the main source of ammonia is the catabolism of amino acids and the breakdown of other nitrogen-containing compounds in tissues, including the kidneys. An imbalance leads to the accumulation of a substance in the blood.

Salty taste. What diseases does this symptom indicate? More details

Prevention of halitosis

• Choose a toothbrush with a suitable degree of hardness, change the hygiene accessory at least once every 3 months;
• use toothpaste without abrasive particles to prevent damage to the enamel;
• brush your teeth thoroughly twice a day;
• use dental floss, irrigator;
• rinse your mouth every time after eating;
• give up bad habits (smoking, alcohol, excessive coffee consumption);
• drink enough water to prevent dry mouth;
• reduce consumption of foods with strong aroma;
• do not forget to cleanse the tongue, paying attention to its root;
• visit the dentist regularly (every 6 months) for professional hygiene;
• promptly treat ENT pathologies and internal diseases;
• strengthen immunity;
• avoid stress and nervous tension;
• in case of chronic diseases of internal organs, pay attention to the prevention of complications and take prescribed therapy.

Expert of the article Bolshakova Evgenia Vladimirovna Dentist-hygienist

More than 11 years of experience

Hyperthyroidism

The smell of iodine from the mouth also indicates problems in the body. Usually, when such a signal appears, doctors send the person to be checked for problems with the thyroid gland, in particular hyperthyroidism. It is this gland that is associated with iodine. When the body has a problem with the production of hormones, it does not have enough capacity to work properly and dispose of everything unnecessary and excess, the accumulation of substances begins. Hence the smell. Also, sometimes the appearance of an iodine odor indicates problems from taking hormonal medications. And sometimes it appears during tooth decay as an oxidative reaction.

Question answer

How to eliminate the smell of onions and garlic?

Diagnosis and which doctor to contact

Stay up to date! To establish an accurate diagnosis, it is necessary to seek advice from a therapist, who will refer, if necessary, for additional examination to specialized specialists.

You will also need to take urine and blood tests .

Quite often, the doctor will refer you for an ultrasound examination of the pelvic organs and thyroid gland.

This is done in order to exclude pathologies of the genitourinary and endocrine systems.

Anemia

A metallic taste from the mouth indicates the development of anemia. It develops against the background of an increase in the concentration of metal ions in the body. With anemia, the transport of hemoglobin is impaired. It is also sometimes called iron. As a result, a complete imbalance of the human condition begins.

Naturally, such a problem should not be ignored: any manifestations of some foreign aroma should be determined by taking tests and consulting with a specialist. You can start with a therapist: he will be alert to a particular disease and will offer examination options, and then therapy. You cannot leave the situation to chance, hoping that it will go away on its own. After all, there is a risk of the pathological process turning into a chronic one: treating it, as we know, is much more difficult, longer and more expensive. And the result is unpredictable.

There are contraindications, you should consult your doctor

Ways to eliminate ammonia bad breath

In order to eliminate ammonia odor from the mouth, it is necessary to carry out complex treatment. To combat pathology, drugs and traditional medicine are used. Additionally, patients are advised to adhere to a certain diet.

The selection of medications in each specific case will depend on the disease that caused the bad breath. The problem can also be caused by taking certain groups of medications. In this case, the bad breath will disappear after stopping the course of the drug. If the time of occurrence of halitosis coincides with the start of therapy, then, most likely, bad breath is associated specifically with drug treatment.

List of drugs that may cause an ammonia smell from the mouth:

• ACTI-5. Prescribed to stimulate appetite in children.
• Glycine. Used to reduce the symptoms of neurological problems manifested by restless sleep and inability to control emotions.
• Methionine. The drug is prescribed for diseases of the liver and bile ducts.

When haliosis occurs, special emphasis is also placed on nutrition. A carbohydrate-free protein diet leads to increased stress on the urinary organs. As a result, a bad odor appears from the oral cavity. If there is a suspicion that the causes of the problem are related to nutrition, then the diet is corrected. The menu includes fresh vegetables and fruits, cereals, and vegetarian soups. With normalization of nutrition, bad breath disappears within 3-4 days.

Along with etiological therapy, symptomatic control of pathology is also carried out. To minimize the unpleasant symptom, various aerosols and sprays that freshen breath are used. Such funds include:

• Hexoral, produced in the form of an aerosol and solution. They rinse the mouth with it 2 times a day, without diluting with water. The duration of the procedure is 30-40 seconds. The aerosol is sprayed into the oral cavity twice a day. The medication is contraindicated in children under 3 years of age and in patients with intolerance to the components of the drug.
• Stopangin, produced in the form of a spray and solution. Use after meals no more than 2 times a day, regardless of the form of release. The medicine is contraindicated in preschool children and people with pharyngitis.
• Chlorhexidine. The solution is used to treat the oral cavity in a crushed form (as indicated in the instructions). The drug is prescribed to children with caution.

Signs of halitosis can also be effectively relieved with the help of alternative medicine. There are several recipes used to combat bad breath:

1. Alcohol tincture of St. John's wort: several tbsp. l. dry raw materials are poured with ½ glass of vodka and left in a dark place for 24 hours. The strained broth is mixed with warm water in a ratio of 30 drops per 200 ml, respectively. Rinse your mouth with the product 2-3 times a day after meals.
2. Strawberry tincture: 2 tbsp. l. leaves of the plant are boiled in 0.5 liters. water and drink 100 ml before meals.
3. Oxalis solution: 2-3 tbsp. l. crushed raw materials are brewed in 0.5 liters of boiling water. The product is infused for several hours and used to rinse the mouth 2-3 times a day. Oxalis is famous for its powerful antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effects.
4. Cranberry juice. The drink eliminates bad breath and effectively fights urolithiasis. To prepare the product, take 500 g of berries and squeeze the juice out of them. The cake is transferred to a saucepan and filled with 500 ml of water. The drink is boiled for 3-5 minutes, then drunk in unlimited quantities. To improve the taste of the drink, you can add honey (not sugar).

To eliminate ammonia breath, it is also recommended to drink as much clean water as possible. You need to consume at least 2 liters of fluid per day for an adult and 1.5 liters for a child

Phantosmia due to coronavirus

Some time after the start of the pandemic, more and more reports began to appear about the loss of the sense of taste and smell during the period of illness. After some time, it turned out that the problem did not disappear with recovery. Experts began to study this phenomenon and found that phantosmia is part of the post-Covid syndrome.

Most often, the disturbance in the perception of tastes and aromas persists for several weeks. Some people experience this phenomenon even after 2 months. Many cases have been described in which all the symptoms disappeared, and then, after a period of imaginary well-being, reappeared. Researchers say parosmia can persist for up to six months or more.

The etiology of the symptom has not been definitively established. Neurologists believe that hallucinatory manifestations are due to the restoration of the nerve, citing an analogy with the situation when a person “rested” an arm or leg. Initially, there is no sensation in the limb.

Then nerve conduction begins to recover, which is accompanied by the crawling of non-existent goosebumps, and the person does not know how to get rid of the unpleasant sensations. And then everything returns to normal. So it is here. During the illness, the olfactory nerve was damaged, now its functions are normalized, and this is manifested by phantosmia, which will disappear after full recovery.

Otolaryngologists have a slightly different theory. They believe that the reason lies not in the nerve itself, but in its endings, which are located in the nasal mucosa and are responsible for the perception of odors. In support of their point of view, they cite observations according to which phantosmia is more often detected in people who previously suffered from chronic rhinitis and sinusitis. Damage by coronavirus aggravates previous pathological changes in the mucous membrane - odor hallucinations occur.

One way or another, experts agree on one thing - the unpleasant phenomenon is temporary. After a certain period, everything will be restored. But we shouldn’t let our guard down. If symptoms persist for a month or more, you should see a doctor.