Your mouth smells like feces: causes of the pungent odor, how to get rid of the symptom

Causes of bad breath

Many patients ask doctors why their breath smells like feces. Experts distinguish between 2 forms of halitosis – physiological and pathological. The first is caused by the accumulation of excess food or pathogens in the mouth, as a rule, it is eliminated after standard teeth cleaning. If the odor cannot be completely eliminated through hygiene procedures, then pathological halitosis occurs. Let's take a closer look at what pathologies provoke its development.

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract

Often, the causes of fecal odor from the mouth lie in serious gastrointestinal pathologies. It is assumed that food rots inside, and the formation of feces occurs with difficulty. Among the most common ailments leading to the appearance of a specific odor are:

• inflammatory-dystrophic changes in the mucous membrane (for example, gastritis);
• malignant tumor (stomach cancer);
• paralytic ileus;
• functional dyspepsia (digestion failure);
• duodenal ulcer;
• inflammation of the gallbladder (in particular, chronic cholecystitis);
• disruption of the normal ratio of microorganisms in the intestines.

With such ailments, in addition to the smell of shit from the mouth, a number of other symptoms are also identified. Among them: pain in the abdomen, constipation, diarrhea, increased gas formation, feeling of nausea. If you notice such signs, you should immediately visit a gastroenterologist.

Respiratory system diseases

In addition to diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, the smell of poop from the mouth can be caused by pathologies of the respiratory system. Among them are:

• infectious diseases (for example, tuberculosis);
• bronchiectasis;
• inflammation of the lungs (pneumonia).

As a rule, these diseases occur with pronounced symptoms: shortness of breath, attacks of suffocation, surges in blood pressure, pain and burning sensation in the chest area. For diagnosis and subsequent treatment, you can contact a pulmonologist or therapist.

Dental diseases

Some dental diseases can cause fecal odor. In this case, a person feels soreness in the mouth, a coating forms on the tongue, swelling and bleeding of the gums may occur, and the sensitivity of the teeth to temperature changes (cold and hot) may worsen. Common pathologies include:

• caries;
• inflammation of the internal tissues of the tooth;
• periodontitis;
• inflammation of the oral mucosa;
• purulent abscesses.

Poor nutrition

The causes of fecal odor from the mouth are often associated with irrational food consumption. The bad habit of overeating often leads to a foul odor (especially fried and fatty foods). Dense protein foods (for example, milk) also provoke the formation of an unpleasant odor. It is worth considering that for the normal state of intestinal microflora, proper nutrition plays a significant role, so you should not neglect it.

Shiyka Oksana

Dentist-therapist

Important! In addition to the reasons described above, a person may develop a fecal odor from the mouth as a result of addictions (for example, drinking alcohol and tobacco products), insufficient salivation, or prolonged use of certain medications.

How to determine the smell in yourself?

The smell of feces from the mouth, as a rule, is impossible to detect on your own - this is a feature of our body.

Its presence and severity can only be assessed by the reaction of people around. However, you can still try to smell yourself.

To do this you need:

• Take a medical mask and breathe through it for a while, then smell how it smells.
• Check if there is a coating on the tongue - bacterial growth is clearly visible from its condition, and, therefore, there should be an aroma.
• Raise your palms in front of your mouth and exhale on them, sniffing.
• If you use dental floss, it can absorb the smell of stool after the brushing process. You should smell it after use.
• Purchase a special measuring device - a halitometer. It will show how strong the unpleasant odor is.

Causes of fecal odor in a child's mouth

A child of any age can develop poop odor from the mouth. In children, this manifestation can be triggered by prolonged use of antibiotics, poor diet, and pathologies of the digestive or respiratory system. But most often, children's breath stinks of feces as a result of the proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms. They are always present in small quantities in the mucous membrane, but under certain conditions they begin to actively multiply. This may happen as a result of:

• insufficient oral hygiene;
• disturbances in salivary secretion (significant reduction);
• abuse of fried and fatty foods;
• white plaque on a muscle organ.

For the normal functioning of the digestive system, the balance of microflora is of great importance. When it is disrupted, pathogenic microorganisms (for example, E. coli) settle on the oral mucosa. When a child inhales air, oxygen reacts with it and volatile substances are formed, which cause the appearance of a specific odor.

In infants, this symptom may appear as a result of incorrect doses of dilution of the formula for breastfeeding. Often, older children develop a foul odor due to an unstable psychological state. This may be due to parental divorce, change of place of residence, separation from friends. The most dangerous cause is malignant neoplasm.

Other risk factors in adults

Gastrointestinal pathologies

A common cause of halitosis is gastrointestinal diseases. Intestinal diseases are accompanied by the spread of pathogenic microorganisms and the accumulation of harmful substances in the body. The following are the causes of manure odor from the mouth:

• oncology;
• helminths;
• dysbacteriosis;
• constipation as a result of intestinal obstruction;
• inflammation of the gastric mucosa, pancreas;
• ulcers in the intestines, stomach;
• diets and preventive fasting, causing an imbalance of microflora in the digestive system.

Each of the diseases mentioned is accompanied by additional symptoms leading to pain and spasmodic sensations. Halitosis is caused by the processes of rotting food inside the body, while the structuring of feces is disrupted or complicated. This process can cause general weakness of the body as a result of impaired intestinal motility and the development of dangerous pathologies.

The occurrence of ulcers, pancreatitis, gastritis occurs as a result of improper digestion, which gives rise to bacteria that cause these pathologies. The development of pathogenic microflora leads to the destruction of tissues of the digestive system and oppression of the mucous membrane. This process may lead to the development of cancer.

In the case of fasting under stressful circumstances, the appearance of a symptom of the smell of poop from the oral cavity is natural, because tissues of the digestive system become an ideal environment for the development of pathogenic microorganisms.

The occurrence of a feeling of constant hunger in combination with a fetid smell of feces indicates the presence of worms, the result of which leads to a malfunction of the digestive system.

Respiratory pathologies

Another source of symptoms of fecal halitosis are diseases of the respiratory system:

• purulent form of sore throat;
• inflammatory processes in the sinuses;
• chronic forms of sinusitis and tonsillitis.

With such diseases, the mucous membranes of the organs become a favorable environment for the development of pathogenic microflora, which leads to the occurrence of an unpleasant symptom. Severe forms of respiratory diseases can also cause foul-smelling stool from the mouth:

• inflammatory processes and abscesses in the lungs;
• tuberculosis;
• pneumonia.

Such diseases are accompanied by the active proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms on the surface of the mucous membranes, the result of their activity is the release of gas, which subsequently leaves the body through the mouth.

Poor nutrition

A common cause of impaired fresh breath may be food that is not fully absorbed by the body. Systematic consumption of spicy foods and foods rich in proteins leads to an excess of amino acids, and as a result, a pungent odor from the mouth.

Drinking liquids with high concentrations of sugar or caffeine leads to disruption of the normal microflora of the gastrointestinal tract.

Eating an excessive amount of various flour products leads to the formation of deposits in the intestinal area, the digestion of which is accompanied by the release of a specific odor. Such products favor the formation of tartar and the formation of plaque on the surface of the tongue.

When should you consult a doctor immediately?

Sometimes a person gets used to a foreign smell and does not feel it himself. He learns that he has a bad odor from the people around him. To notice the foul odor yourself, you can use the following methods:

• Brush over teeth with a dry brush. If problems with the appearance of an unpleasant odor are associated with dental diseases, then a coating will remain on the bristles, which can be felt after 5-10 seconds.
• Breathe into a medical mask (about a minute). If there is an unpleasant odor, you can feel it by sniffing the mask after the manipulations.
• Inhale into a special device - a halitometer. It will allow you to evaluate your breathing.

If it is determined that your breath smells like feces, you should immediately contact a specialist to find out the reason that caused such a negative symptom. Initially, you can make an appointment with a dentist if smell is the only problem. He will examine the oral cavity and, if necessary, prescribe a panoramic X-ray examination.

If, in addition to the smell, other signs are bothering you (in particular, pain in the abdomen, a feeling of nausea), then you should make an appointment with a therapist, pulmonologist or gastroenterologist (in accordance with the characteristics of the symptoms) for primary diagnosis. Laboratory (tests) and diagnostic measures will help determine the cause of fecal odor from the mouth. The doctor prescribes them depending on the symptoms that bother the patient. Among all types of instrumental diagnostics there are:

• X-ray examination;
• gastroscopy;
• fluorography;
• ultrasonography;
• bronchography;
• pulmonary ventilation.

Medical diagnosis and treatment

Fecal odor should be treated according to the cause of its occurrence. First, a person goes to the dentist, voicing symptoms and additional dental ailments, if any.

Having ruled out the oral cavity as the source of the disease, you need to go to a therapist and gastroenterologist.

The doctor refers the patient for the following tests:

• If gastritis is suspected, the acidity of the gastrointestinal tract is checked.
• An ulcer is detected only through gastroenetroscopy.
• Respiratory tract diseases may require additional examinations and fluorography.
• If cancer is suspected, a biochemical blood test is taken.

Treatment is different in all cases:

• Disorders in the gastrointestinal tract are eliminated by medicinal and nutritional adjustments in the production of gastric juice and bile, cleansing the stomach and intestines, and normalizing the microflora. A diet must be prescribed, depending on the severity of the disease.
• Purulent formations are eliminated by taking antibiotics. If ulcers can be removed, this is done through surgery.
• Inflammation in the body is treated according to the following scheme: first you need to stop the process, then limit the proliferation of bacteria and cleanse the body of accumulated toxins.
• Dental pathologies are treated with surgical procedures, regular rinses, or medications.

READ Is it possible to recognize your breath odor?

How to get rid of fecal odor from the mouth?

After the doctor determines for sure why the breath stinks of feces, he will begin prescribing treatment. Initially, it is necessary to eliminate the underlying problem that provoked such a symptom. To achieve this, they usually resort to drug therapy and physiotherapy (in exceptional cases, surgery is required). During the treatment period, it is recommended to use mouth rinses that can neutralize pathogens. The most effective are chlorine dioxide, triclosan and zinc.

Poor salivation plays an important role in the formation of fecal odor from the mouth. With the help of saliva, a large number of pathogenic bacteria that are localized in the oral cavity are eliminated. Against the background of decreased salivation, the cleansing of the oral cavity is significantly reduced, which leads to an unpleasant odor. Doctors recommend adding foods that stimulate salivation to your daily diet, such as:

• fruits and berries (oranges, apples, melons);
• natural green tea;
• Birch juice;
• green (leafy) vegetables (lettuce, parsley, celery).

Prevention

The most effective way to prevent fecal odor from the mouth is to maintain hygiene. We are talking about caring for teeth, tongue, and oral mucosa. The following measures are recommended:

• changing personal hygiene products;
• giving up bad habits and poor quality food;
• therapeutic and prophylactic rinsing with herbs (chamomile, sage, mint);
• brushing teeth twice a day;
• using dental floss;
• Regular visits to the dentist to get rid of plaque, caries, and tartar.

If the unpleasant odor is persistent, and rinsing with medications and brushing your teeth does not give the desired effect, you can confidently talk about the development of pathology in the body.

Is it permissible to use traditional medicine?

Treatment of fecal odor from the mouth can also be carried out using traditional medicine. It is worth noting that such treatment will not help get rid of the cause that caused the disease, but will only temporarily eliminate its negative manifestations. Below is a table with recipes for the most effective remedies that can temporarily eliminate the smell of shit from your mouth:

The above recipes are suitable for the temporary elimination of halitosis in both adults and children. Natural ingredients are safer for the digestive system (and other systems) of the body compared to drugs. However, do not forget that they can cause allergic reactions (individual intolerance).