Breath that smells like feces can occur with prolonged vomiting, especially when there is a bowel obstruction. It may also occur temporarily if a person has a tube placed through the nose or mouth to drain their stomach.
While poor oral hygiene can cause a person's breath to smell like poop because of excessive bacterial growth and gum disease, sometimes it's a symptom of a more significant health issue. One significant health issue that can cause the breath to smell like poop is an intestinal obstruction.
Fecal Smell
A bowel obstruction occurs when stools start to back up, resulting in the large and/or small intestines no longer being able to process waste. Breath that smells like poop combined with constipation is a good sign that you have a bowel obstruction.
The Digestive System and Bad Breath
Most people who have bad breath from the digestive system describe a rotten egg smell. This is due to gut microbiota that break down sulfur, releasing an eggy-smelling gas. For some people. However, the smell is a more rotten, putrid smell.
Eighty percent of people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) also have SIBO, which can develop after gastric infections. Patients who have fructose malabsorption, lactose intolerance, or eat a lot of fiber can develop SIBO. Gasses produced in SIBO are the major cause of complaint and may cause bad breath.
Helicobacter pylori infection
H. pylori is a type of bacteria that can affect the stomach. It can cause stomach ulcers and even stomach cancer. It's also known to cause both sweat and breath that smells like ammonia or urine.
Everyone also should be aware of other new symptoms, in addition to bad breath, that are possible signs of oral, oropharyngeal (throat) or laryngeal cancer.
Liver disease or kidney disease: When your liver and kidneys are working properly, they filter toxins out of your body. But in people with liver or kidney disease, these toxic substances aren't being cleared out. This can result in halitosis.
Helicobacter pylori gastric infection can be a cause of bad breath.
Tooth decay creates a sulphurous or bad smell due to the enamel and dentine being broken down. As the bacteria consume these substances, they release a gas into your mouth that creates the unpleasant odour that occurs with cavities and rotten teeth.
Gingivitis can cause your breath to smell like sulfur or rotten eggs. This is because of the bacteria in your mouth releasing chemicals that smells like these things. If you have gingivitis, you may also notice that your gingiva, or gums, are red and swollen. You may also bleed when you brush or floss your teeth.
If you lick your wrist, let it dry for a moment, then take a whiff, you should be able to get an idea if your breath has an odor too. Another method is to floss toward the back of your mouth, then smell the floss. Or gently scrape your tongue using a tongue scraper or soft bristle toothbrush, then smell the scraper.
Breath that smells sulfuric, resembling the smell of rotten eggs, may indicate a problem with the digestive tracts.
Breath that smells sour
If you have GERD, your breath may sometimes smell sour, like partially digested food.
Fetor hepaticus occurs when your breath has a strong, musty smell. It's a sign that your liver is having trouble doing its job of filtering out toxic substances, usually due to severe liver disease. As a result, sulfur substances end up in your bloodstream and can make their way to your lungs.
Postnasal drip, respiratory and tonsil infections, sinus problems, diabetes, liver and kidney issues, as well as certain blood disorders can all cause bad breath. In some rarer cases, bad breath could be a sign of cancer or other serious conditions like metabolic disorders.
The primary cause: bacteria that live in your mouth and break down food, proteins and even skin cells, leading to the production and release of smelly volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs). We asked experts to share the top causes of bad breath—and the best ways to eliminate bacteria and other halitosis culprits.
Mouth infections can cause bad breath. However, if your dentist has ruled out other causes and you brush and floss every day, your bad breath could be the result of another problem, such as a sinus condition, gastric reflux, diabetes, liver or kidney disease. In this case, see your healthcare provider.
Smelly breath, however, is a common symptom of stomach ulcers, and even some gastric cancers. Bad breath is caused from the bacteria, helicobacter pylori, which causes stomach ulcers.
If your breath smells like acetone -- the same fruity scent as nail polish remover -- it may be a sign of high levels of ketones (acids your liver makes) in your blood. It's a problem mainly of type 1 diabetes but also can happen with type 2 if you get a serious condition called diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).
Foetor hepaticus is a feature of severe liver disease; a sweet and musty smell both on the breath and in urine. It is caused by the excretion of dimethyl disulphide and methyl mercaptan (CH3SH)2, arising from an excess of methionine.
If your intestinal wall has been compromised, and you have leaky gut, you'll likely experience these symptoms and signs: Digestive issues such as gas, bloating, diarrhea, or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) Food allergies or food intolerances. Brain fog, difficulty concentrating, ADD, or ADHD.
Flossing once a day with dental floss or a Water Flosser and using mouthwash daily will also help combat the bacteria that lead to rotten tooth smell and tooth decay smell.
GERD or reflux — Bad breath can be a sign of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease or GERD. If you tend to have heartburn or reflux, your bad breath could be related to the excess acid produced by your digestive tract. Those acids can have a sour odor, affecting your breath.