How to deal with ‘poo breath’

Everyone gets a bout of bad breath now and then – after all, we’re only human, but some people have been dealt an extremely unpleasant hand as they must deal with halitosis whiffs and niffs that smell like poo.

The bacteria that live on our tongue spend their time breaking down our food. They break down the proteins we eat into amino acids, and as a result, smelly gases are released. Some of the gases smell like rotten eggs; others have a sickly-sweet, unpleasant odour, but the real nasties are those made from a chemical called methyl mercaptan, which gives off the faecal toilet wafts.

Faecal breath has several causes. If the odours are originating from your mouth, then excellent oral hygiene is the name of the day. A professional deep clean at your dental practice is top of the priority list. Ask them to numb up the teeth if you find this uncomfortable. Then, adopt a daily habit of cleaning between your teeth and using your toothbrush to clean along the gum line where it meets the tooth. Finish with a mouthwash like Listerine or Ultradex, which have active ingredients to neutralise bad breath.

Since the tongue harbours bad-breath bacteria, arm yourself with a good tongue scraper to remove the top coating.

The smelly bacteria love a dry environment, so if your mouth tends towards the Sahara Desert, then try topping up your daily water intake. Regurgitation of stomach acid into your mouth, whether because of reflux, illness, or pregnancy, exacerbates poo breath. If you’re aware that acid has come up, try rinsing with water and eating a piece of cheese to neutralise the mouth to bring it back to normal levels.

Emerging research also shows that probiotic lozenges containing Lactobacillus salivarius and Streptococcus salivarius are useful for tackling bad breath, as they compete with malodorous bacteria.

Occasionally, poo breath is a sign of more serious underlying health issues that require medical attention. A bowel blockage, for instance, can cause food to remain in your digestive tract longer or back up, leading to stinky breath.

Liver failure breath is often described as smelling like musty poo, a condition known as Fetor Hepaticus, due to the liver being unable to filter toxins like sulphur compounds and ammonia, so they get released through the lungs. If you suspect these, consult your doctor.