Checking your breath can not only save you from embarrassing social situations but also save your life. From lung cancer to kidney failure, discover which medical conditions doctors can diagnose simply by asking you to open your mouth.
Bad breath is embarrassing. But a quick breath test can save you from more than just an awkward social situation—it could save your life. According to one study, breath test technology could detect stomach cancer at an early stage.
However, stomach cancer isn’t the only medical condition that breath can reveal. According to the Mayo Clinic, the smell of bad breath varies and depends on the underlying cause. Here are some common causes of bad breath:
- Food: As food particles break down in the mouth, bacteria grow, producing an unpleasant odour. Onions, garlic, and certain spices are common causes of bad breath.
- Tobacco products: Smoking tobacco also causes bad breath, as does chewing tobacco.
- Poor dental habits: Not flossing or brushing your teeth regularly are common causes of bad breath. This occurs when small pieces of food get trapped in the mouth. The tongue can also be a source of bad breath because bacteria can grow on it, producing an unpleasant odour.
- Dry Mouth: A condition called dry mouth can cause bad breath due to reduced saliva production. Dry mouth is a common cause of morning breath, especially in people who sleep with their mouths open.
- Dental Infections: Cavities, gum disease, surgical wounds, and bruxism (teeth grinding) are all causes of bad breath.
- Postnasal Drip: Phlegm that hardens in the tonsils can cause bad breath. Chronic postnasal drip and sinus drainage can also cause bad breath.
- GERD: Heartburn or chronic reflux of stomach acid into the oesophagus (gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD) is associated with bad breath. Treating GERD can improve bad breath.
- Other Serious Causes: Certain types of cancer and metabolic diseases can leave an unusual odour on the breath. Consult your doctor if you notice a metallic or other odour.
Some people are very concerned about their breath, even when it has little to no odour, while others have bad breath and don’t even know it. Since it’s difficult to assess your own breath, ask a close friend or family member to confirm your concerns about bad breath.
Poor dental hygiene is the cause of most cases of bad breath, also known as halitosis. However, bad breath can indicate another underlying medical condition. And it doesn’t even have to smell: even the freshest breath can detect various health problems.
1. Breath tests can diagnose lung cancer.
Can lung cancer cause bad breath? Pathologists typically perform biopsies and ultrasounds to diagnose lung cancer, but breath tests could be a cheaper and less invasive alternative, according to a study. Researchers used a pre-programmed “electronic nose” that detects profiles of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath to analyse breath samples from 475 subjects. The group included a mix of 252 lung cancer patients, 223 patients with various lung conditions, and healthy volunteers; 265 smokers and 210 nonsmokers.
They found that, among the nonsmokers, the electronic nose accurately identified lung cancer in 128 subjects and misdiagnosed only 5. Among the smokers, the electronic nose correctly identified 114 people with lung cancer and misdiagnosed 5.
Furthermore, a study found that the accuracy of breath tests for detecting lung cancer continues to improve with the use of more specific VOCs.
2. Heart Failure May Be Diagnosed With Breath Samples
Researchers at the Cleveland Clinic used a simple breath test to identify patients with heart failure, according to a recent article.
The researchers collected breath samples from 41 hospitalised patients: 25 with severe heart failure and 16 with other heart problems. They then used mass spectrometry to analyse breath samples for the molecular and chemical characteristics of compounds that cause heart failure. They found two volatile compounds, acetone and pentane, that were elevated in patients with heart failure and could be distinguished from controls.
Research in this field continues to advance. A more recent study found that heart failure patients with higher levels of acetone and pentane were more likely to have a poor prognosis and die, compared to patients with lower levels, 33 months later.
3. Fruity or acetone-like breath could indicate complications of diabetes.
Poorly controlled diabetes can increase susceptibility to periodontal disease and dry mouth. When blood sugar levels are unstable, the weakened body is unable to fight off bacteria that cause infections, leading to damaged gums. These infections also cause bad breath.
Breath that smells fruity or similar to acetone (commonly used in nail polish remover) can also indicate a serious complication in diabetic patients called ketoacidosis, according to a study. When the body doesn’t have enough insulin, it uses fatty acids for energy, producing acidic ketones. These acids can build up in the blood and lead to a diabetic coma or death.
4. Fishy breath could be a sign of kidney failure.
Bad breath isn’t always due to seafood: A fishy, ammonia-like odour in the mouth could indicate kidney failure.
The kidneys remove toxic chemicals from the blood by producing urine. In kidney failure, also known as end-stage renal disease, the kidneys are so damaged that they can no longer filter waste products and toxins from the blood. When this happens, the toxins and dangerous waste that aren’t excreted from the body build up and affect almost every part of the body.
Bad breath can occur when kidney failure affects the respiratory system, leading to breathing problems, according to one study.
5. Sleep apnea can cause morning breathing.
Morning breath can seem normal after a good night’s sleep. Saliva production decreases during sleep, allowing bacteria that cause bad breath to multiply and thrive.
However, decreased saliva production during sleep can sometimes be due to keeping your mouth open for extended periods. People with sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea and snoring, may have difficulty breathing through their nose and are more likely to breathe through their mouth, which can lead to bad breath, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
6. GERD can cause bad breath.
Digestive conditions such as acid reflux and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can cause bad breath. Both digestive conditions can slow down or prevent the proper processing of food in the stomach. When food doesn’t pass through the digestive system, it can begin to break down. Even small amounts of undigested food can be regurgitated, leading to bad breath. Dentists can also diagnose GERD in patients by observing redness and swelling of the throat and acid erosion of the teeth.
But GERD isn’t the only digestive health problem that can affect breath. One study suggests that the bacteria H. pylori, which causes stomach ulcers, can also cause bad breath.
7. Allergies and postnasal drip can cause bad breath.
Respiratory infections, such as the flu, bronchitis, and sinusitis, are common causes of bad breath. When respiratory infections damage or inflame the respiratory system’s tissues, they can trigger the production of cells that feed on bacteria and mucus.
Allergies and postnasal drip can also cause bad breath by clogging the nose. This nasal congestion can force you to breathe through your mouth, leading to dryness and the growth of bacteria that cause bad breath.
8. Avoid bad breath associated with cavities and gingivitis.
When tooth enamel wears away, food particles can become trapped in the resulting cavities, a condition known as tooth decay. Since brushing cannot remove these food deposits, they can allow bacteria to grow, causing bad breath.
Gingivitis is another condition that can cause bad breath. When the gums become inflamed due to bacteria, it can lead to severe pain and unpleasant odours.
9. Stomach cancer is a serious cause of bad breath.
Routine screening for stomach cancer is not common in the United States, primarily because the current method, endoscopy, is invasive. However, this could change with the development of a breath test technology called nanoarray analysis, which measures the levels of various compounds associated with stomach cancer.
In a study of 335 patients (163 diagnosed with oesophageal or gastric cancer), the breath test was able to distinguish cancer from benign conditions with 85% accuracy.
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