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What Causes Bad Mouth Odor?

Posted on Mon, 16 Feb 2015

Question: I have been experiencing a fecal/fart odor when I talk. I brush my teeth, floss and take thorough showers. The dentist checked my mouth, did x rays and the whole nine, but didnt find anything.

I've changed my diet to raw foods (basically the paleo diet) and take multivitamin supplements, and probiotics (helps, but doesn't get rid of it). The probiotics I take help the most with getting rid of the odor, but once Im off, it comes back with a vengeance. I've been tested for h. pylori/candida. Negative results. The doctor thought it might be gerd, but I have few to no symptoms anymore because of how strict my diet is . The second I stop and deviate --i.e. eat fast food and sugar-- it comes back. Also at night, while I'm watching tv and my stomach feels empty, the odor creeps into my nose for a short period of time. I doubt it's my XXXXXXX since I almost never experience reflux, painful or unpainful. That and I call B.S. on my doctor when half my family has brutal Acid Reflux and not one of them smells like a turd when they talk.

Currently I'm taking albendazole for parasites. I've been dealing with this for close to two years, so I'm not going to be too hopeful on albenza unless all the symptoms die off and fast food doesnt make my breath smell like a cesspool.

Any new ideas on this?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Klerida Shehu (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
SIBO to rule out,,,

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX

I have gone through your medical history carefully and am sorry for the odor issue you are having.

Apart the options your doctor has presented to you, my opinion is toward small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO).In the case of SIBO, the bacteria in your small intestine multiply abnormally.
As a result, your small intestine’s bacterial population more closely resembles the bacteria in your colon. These bacteria eat up sugar and carbohydrates, producing excessive gas—including foul-smelling hydrogen sulfide.

And this gas can eventually make its way north and out through your mouth.

This is especially true when you say that your symptoms are improved after taking probiotics.

If SIBO is confirmed, antibiotics like ciprofloxacin and probiotics are advised to take.

Other factors might be possible causes including GERD, foods/drinks you consume, spices like garlic, onion, etc.;

Hope it was of help!
Dr.Klerida

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Klerida Shehu (1 hour later)

SO the possibilities are Parasites, Gerd, and Sibo?

If the problem is parasites, how long would it take for the albendazole to treat it before the fecal smell were to go away.

And in the case of the problem being SIBO, how effective are antibiotics like ciprofloxacin and probiotics at ridding the small intestine of bad bacteria without having a reoccurring bout with it?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Klerida Shehu (16 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Within first month of treatment will see improvement

Detailed Answer:
Hi back,

Thank you for following up.

1. The first thing is to determine if parasitic infection is present.

Depending on the type of parasites, it will be decided on duration of treatment.

Usually, within a month you could see improvement.

2. If SIBO is determined, ciprofloxacin and probiotics are the treatment of choice.

However, if one treatment won't show effective, another one is also advised.

All the best!
Dr.Klerida

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj