Bad breath brings serious concerns to anyone. At its worst, bad breath can deal a terrible blow to one’s self-esteem. While some are easy to curb, perhaps by simply brushing or using mouth wash, others can be distressing and hard to go away. Different kinds of odors emanate from bad breath; the most disturbing one is the poop smell.
Frequently, breath smelling like poop indicates a serious underlying health issue. The causes vary widely, each treated quite differently from the others. If you notice the smell of feces in your breath, you would like to see a doctor. Check out what could be causing the odor. [1]
Causes
Bowel Obstruction
Obstruction of the intestinal tract stopping the flow of digested food from the large intestines can result in a breath that stinks of feces. This is partly due to the trapped fecal matter on its way out of the body and mostly due to the putrefaction of the digested substances held up in the gut. This condition can be life-threatening! [2]
Poor Oral Hygiene
Neglecting your teeth and gums can lead to very bad breath. When you don’t brush or floss your mouth for long, your breath will soon acquire a foul odor. This happens when food particles are left to putrefy in the mouth or in-between your teeth. Bacteria in the mouth flourish under such conditions exacerbating the terrible fecal odor produced. [3]
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
GERD can be the source of breath that smells like poop. Acid from your stomach is called up into your esophagus and mouth, hence irritating the esophageal lining. Many people with gastroesophageal reflux disease aren’t aware of it. If you have gastroesophageal reflux disease, you might experience symptoms like mild or severe reflux (perhaps twice a week), regurgitating acidic or sour fluid, and difficulty swallowing. [4]
Prolonged Vomiting
The presence of saliva in the mouth prevents some extreme odors since it helps to clean the mouth. Vomiting, however, dries the mouth of saliva, increasing the chances of bad breath. Prolonged vomiting, on the other hand, results in dry mouth and severe bad breath. What’s more, vomiting due to bowel obstruction usually erupts with poop smell breath. [5]
Sinus Infection
Viral or bacterial attacks on the sinuses are common causes of sinus infections. When these bacteria or other pathogens crawl into the respiratory tract or throat for a while, a foul smell is likely to come from your breath when you open your mouth. Infections, such as viral colds, might result in foul-smelling breath in children.
Liver Failure
Unlike the chronic type, acute liver failure often results in diarrhea and dehydration. It is a serious cause for concern amongst liver patients, as it can be life-threatening in some cases. A likely consequence of this is that the breath takes on the smell of poop, which continues as long as the diarrhea and dehydration persist. Other symptoms of acute liver failure include jaundice, fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, and weight loss.
Treatment
The treatment of the poop smell in your breath depends largely on the underlying cause of the odor. There are several ways to treating the poop smell of the breath, each of which involves eliminating the source of the bad breath. In most cases you might have to visit a doctor to ascertain the underlying cause and get the right treatment. Below, we’d discuss how you can manage the problem of bad breath related to the causes, as mentioned earlier.
Bowel Obstruction
To ascertain the severity of the bowel condition, your doctor might recommend a scan. The scan would determine what treatment procedures to use. In partial bowel obstruction, you might be advised to give your bowel some rest. Instead, intravenous fluids are administered to substitute for ingestion. Other medications would be given to treat other symptoms you might be experiencing. Severe cases of bowel obstruction usually require surgery to open up the blockage. [6]
Poor Oral Hygiene
If your bad breath is caused by poor oral hygiene, paying close attention to your dental health is a no-brainer. Consider using a mouth wash and tongue scraper. Throw dental floss in the mix, and regularly visit a dentist for professional help. If you have plaques on your teeth, the dentist can help in cleaning them. Treating your gum disease promptly removes the factor of inflammation, which may cause foul-smelling breath. [7]
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
The first step to treating GERD is to avoid the foods which trigger the reflux of fluid. You can treat the condition using medications that are easily obtainable over the counter. Antacids, for example, can help keep acid levels low. Proton pump inhibitors and drugs that tend to close the lower esophageal sphincter might prove helpful in treating GERD symptoms. Very severe cases of GERD may require surgery to treat. The smell of poop should be alleviated with the treatment of GERD (if caused by it). [8]
Prolonged Vomiting
Depending on the underlying cause, vomiting symptoms might be allowed to pass before bad breath treatment ensures. It is important not to brush your teeth immediately after a bout of vomiting. This is because you run a risk of eroding the enamel of your teeth with the regurgitated acids. In some severe cases of vomiting, intravenous fluids may be administered to overcome dehydration.
Sinus Infection
Antibiotic prescriptions from a doctor can be gotten over the counter. Antihistamines, decongestants, and some allergy medications work well against sinus infections. Sometimes prescription drugs aren’t necessary after administering antihistamines. When your nasal congestion or sinus infection has cleared, the foul-smelling breath would have left. [9]
Liver Failure
If your bad breath is caused by liver failure, you would like to see a doctor (preferably, a hepatologist). He or she might recommend some changes in your diet and lifestyle, with intravenous infusion of fluids to ensure proper body hydration. Then, drugs that reverse the cause of the liver failure would probably be prescribed. A liver transplant becomes necessary if these methods fail to correct it.
Below are other articles that you may be interested in:
10 Signs of Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable Bowel Syndrome – Diagnosis & Treatment
13 Common Diarrhea Treatments You Need to Know
