What Halitosis Can Say About You : From Bad Breath to Good
- Share via
To the untrained nose, bad breath is just bad breath. But “oral malodor experts” say specific breath odors reflect possible disease and dietary habits.
Among the possibilities:
* Rotten egg smell might indicate liver disease.
* Sweet or sour smelling breath might reflect a high-milk diet.
* Bitter odors might follow a fatty meal.
* Fishy breath might occur when someone is on dialysis.
* Acetone breath (nail polish-like smell) might afflict a person with diabetes.
* Musty breath might accompany typhoid fever.
* Very sour breath might reflect intestinal dysfunction.
Source: Dr. Diana Messadi, co-director, UCLA Fresh Breath-Halitosis Clinic.
