Why does the smell of feces occur from the mouth?

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.

Why do children's breath stink of poop?

Fecal halitosis in children, as a rule, indicates pathologies of the nasopharynx, much less often – problems with the organs of the gastrointestinal tract, excretion and breathing. In the case of chronic forms of pathologies, an accumulation of harmful substances occurs. It is impossible to remove them from the body naturally; they exit through the respiratory tract, which is accompanied by a corresponding aroma.

The main causes of fecal odor in children are as follows:

• caries;
• periodontitis;
• abscesses in the mouth;
• tonsillitis;
• pathologies of the salivary glands;
• non-compliance or improper oral care.

If your baby has an unpleasant odor in his mouth, special attention should be paid to the condition of his teeth and gums. The initial examination of the mouth can be carried out at home, without the help of a specialist. If any abnormalities are detected, a consultation with a dentist is necessary in order to make a more accurate diagnosis.

To examine the nasopharynx area for pathologies, consultation with an otolaryngologist or pediatrician is necessary. If there are no deviations, it is necessary to focus on the quality of hygiene procedures. It may also be necessary to adjust the baby's diet or diet.

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.

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.

What can you do at home?

If your mouth smells like feces, you can try to mask it for the time being.

However, only a doctor can tell you what to do in cases where the disease-causing processes are not limited to the oral cavity.

Here's how to get rid of the smell of feces from your mouth at home:

• Rinse with strong tea, followed by rinsing with water.
• Rinse with herbal decoctions (oak bark, verbena) or tea tree oil (eliminates bacteria).
• Replace the brush and toothpaste, brush your teeth.
• Use chewing gum.

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).

Dental reasons

If fecal halitosis is detected, the source must first be looked for in the mouth (mucous membrane, teeth, gums, salivary glands). In this case, the source of the unpleasant symptom may be:

• food residues, microorganisms, salts form tartar;
• formation of pathogenic microflora;
• plaque formation due to prolonged poor quality teeth brushing and insufficient hygiene;
• cyst formation on the jaw and gums;
• caries;
• damage to the oral mucosa;
• formation of abscesses;
• the use of braces to correct teeth;
• inflammation of the tissues around the tooth and gums.

Almost any disease of the gums or teeth can lead to the appearance of stool odor. Poor quality chewing of food and poor hygiene lead to the accumulation of residues in the oral cavity, which subsequently leads to decomposition and abscesses.

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).