okay sooo this is kinda gross but also IMPORTANT lol. bad breath (aka halitossis?? halitosiss?? idk how to spell it right tbh) is something we all deal with sometimes but like, not all bad breath smells the same
some smells are just like “i ate garlic” and others are like “is something dying??”
anyways, i got curious one day and started looking up the different types of bad breath smells and what causes them. here’s what i found (with my own opinions mixed in lol)
1. Garlic / Onion Breath
this one’s obvious lol. if u eat garlic, onions, or like strong spices, it’s gonna come out your mouth for HOURS later. even if u brush after, it still lingers.
fix: drink water, chew gum, brush tongue (esp the back), or just don’t eat garlic if u got a date lmao
2. Morning Breath
ugh morning breath is so gross but so normal happens bcoz ur mouth gets dry at night and bacteria have a party in there while u sleep. plus ur not eating or drinking to wash them away
smells like: stale, sour, weirdly warm air lol
✅ fix: brush teeth + tongue after waking up. drink water ASAP too
3. Poop Breath (sorry but true)
i kno this sounds nasty af but yeah, some ppl actually have breath that smells like poop. usually this means something wrong with digestion, or like really bad dental problems (like infected tooth or gum disease). or if u haven’t pooped in days
sometimes it’s tonsil stones too. they smell HORRIBLE
go to a dentist or doctor for this one fr
4. Fruity / Sweet Breath (but not in a cute way)
if ur breath smells sweet or fruity, and u haven’t been eating candy, this could be a red flag. sometimes ppl with diabetes (esp undiagnosed or uncontrolled) have this type of breath. it’s called ketone breath
kinda smells like nail polish or overripe fruit
❗ pls see a doctor if u notice this + other symptoms (thirst, tired all the time, peeing a lot, etc)
5. Rotten Meat / Dead Animal Smell
omg i read about this one and it’s apparently from tonsil stones or tonsillitis. food gets stuck in the back of ur throat and bacteria feast on it. smells AWFUL like roadkill
fix: gargle salt water, water flosser, or even go get tonsils removed if it’s bad enough
6. Acid / Vomit Smell
this one comes from acid reflux or GERD. stomach acid comes up into the throat and makes ur breath smell kinda like vomit or sour milk
not good. if this is u, def talk to a doc
✅ maybe try eating smaller meals, avoid spicy/greasy stuff, and don’t lay down right after eating
7. Metallic Smell / Blood-ish
smell like a penny? that might be blood, especially if ur gums are bleeding when u brush. could be gum disease or just brushing too hard
if it’s all the time, u might need a dental cleaning. not just breath mints lol
8. Fishy Smell (yes it’s real)
sometimes ppl have a breath smell that’s weirdly fishy, which can come from some kidney problems or other health conditions. it’s rare but it happens
not from what u ate either, so don’t blame the tuna sandwich
Final Thoughts (bad breath is no joke )
okay so yeah, bad breath isn’t just about brushing or chewing gum. sometimes it’s food, but sometimes it’s ur body trying to tell u something’s off. If your breath always stinks no matter what u do, don’t ignore it!
brush teeth + tongue
drink water (dry mouth = stinky mouth)
scrape ur tongue!!
go to the dentist once in a while lol
and maybe see a doc if the smell is weird or never goes away
also. pls tell ur friends if their breath stinks. gently. don’t just let them suffer