Determining if you have bad breath is very problematic. At first, one can only guess about its presence, since the receptors responsible for smell quickly get used to new smells. But the people around you can hint at the existing problem.
Unpleasant smell entails not only social problems (for example, it can lower self-esteem, cause discomfort when communicating with other people), it can also indicate the presence of some kind of disease inside the body. Therefore, it is worth taking responsibility for such a problem as the smell of ammonia from the mouth.
Factors that influence the appearance of this smell can be completely different. Here are the main ones that are most often found.
Kidney disease
The smell of ammonia from the mouth may appear when the kidneys are disrupted - a unique "filter" of the human body that removes metabolic products. Violation of the kidneys causes a failure in the excretion of metabolic products. The latter are distributed throughout the body,enter the blood, lungs and become an integral part of the exhaled air.
Along the way, symptoms such as changes in blood pressure, swelling, pain in the lower back indicate a violation of the kidneys. Common diagnoses are kidney dystrophy, tubular disease, kidney failure.
Ammonia odor caused by starvation?
A person who overly restricts himself in food and drink exposes the body to starvation. And this, in turn, adversely affects the work of all organs, including the kidneys. The latter lose their ability to process waste products and remove urine from the body. Violation of the functionality of the kidneys is one of the causes of ammonia smell from the mouth. To get rid of such an unpleasant phenomenon, you need to review your diet and just start eating.
Why else can you smell ammonia from your mouth? The reasons are listed below.
Diabetes
People who suffer from diabetes should pay more attention to the unpleasant odor caused by the accumulation of glucose, leading to the formation of ketone bodies - the causes of the described problem. Accompanying signs of diabetes are dry mouth, weakness, the appearance of pigmentation on the body, itchy skin. There is frequent urination, constantly thirsty. The body feels a lack of fluid.
No carbs
Protein diet may be a contributing factor to odor. Diets that are based on the rejection of carbohydrates,accompanied by bad breath.
Lack of fats and carbohydrates in the body leads to the fact that all its systems begin to use their own stores of glycogen and fats as an energy source. In the process of their processing, the formation of ketone bodies occurs, which first enter the bloodstream, then into the lungs. On exhalation, there is an occurrence of bad breath.
Medication
Mouth odor can be triggered by medication. Even the most common vitamins can cause some discomfort. Therefore, you should abandon the provocateur of an unpleasant aroma. If the drugs used are vital, you should contact your doctor to eliminate the disease.
Risk factors
A person is not always aware of the presence of bad breath. And others may not tell him about it. Scientists have created some statistics:
- 10% - diseases that are associated with ENT;
- 80% - diseases of the oral cavity;
- 10% are the most serious diseases.
Bad smell of ammonia from the mouth can be intermittent, that is, appear only at certain hours. For example, many patients have noted the occurrence of odor in the morning, before a meal. If you feel it constantly, you should immediately consult a doctor to avoid negative consequences.
Symptomatics
How to check if an adult has ammonia breath? It is betterjust ask loved ones to determine if you have an unpleasant odor. However, many are embarrassed to ask for help, considering it unhygienic. Therefore, there are ways to independently check yourself for the presence of ammonia smell from the mouth:
- moisten a small patch of skin on your wrist with saliva and immediately smell it;
- put cotton under the tongue, hold it inside for a few seconds so that it gets wet, and then smell it;
- Dental floss can also help, you can sniff it:
- the most effective way is to see a doctor who will confirm or deny the presence of the smell with full confidence.
Finding out that an unpleasant odor comes from the oral cavity, how to determine that it is ammonia? To do this, we will describe what it most often looks like. Causes associations with the smell of urine, ammonia or spoiled (rotten) products.
Note that the ammonia smell differs from many others in that it is highly caustic and specific. Therefore, it is very problematic to confuse it with some other unpleasant odor.
Bad smell of ammonia from the mouth of a child
In a baby, the appearance of bad breath may indicate problems with the liver. These include cirrhosis, liver failure, chronic hepatitis. At the same time, the appearance of an unpleasant odor is accompanied by general malaise.
An unpleasant odor associated with nausea may indicate the presence of diabetes. Parents need to see a doctor right awayfor a complete examination, accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.
This is why the smell of ammonia from the mouth of a child is dangerous. The reasons may be different.
A chronic condition in which a person emits a persistent unpleasant odor is called halitosis. It smells bad even after brushing your teeth and flossing. In 80% of cases, this problem will be solved by a dentist, since the most likely causes of halitosis are gum disease, caries, cracked fillings.
What are the ways to remove the smell of ammonia from the mouth of a child?
Doctor Komarovsky's advice
If the smell is caused by some kind of disease, then you need to treat it. Often, odors occur without concomitant diseases, so it is necessary to control the hygiene of children and adhere to certain rules:
1. The surface of the child's tongue must be cleaned every day with a bandage. In older children, cleaning is carried out with a special brush.
2. The child's nutrition should be correct and include all the necessary vitamins.
3. Brush your teeth every day. Children under two years of age clean them with a special silicone brush, and then you can carry out the procedure with a regular children's brush.
4. It is necessary to visit the dentist at least once every six months.
5. It is forbidden until the age of seven to eat lollipops and spray the mouth with special sprays to freshen breath.
This will help remove the smell of ammonia from the mouth of the child. Komarovskyadvises parents to take their child's temperature if they have bad breath. If the temperature rises, you should immediately go to the hospital, as this indicates the presence of an infection in the baby's body.
Unpleasant smell in an adult
Why can an adult smell ammonia from the mouth? The reasons are as follows.
The patient's odor is accompanied by various concomitant diseases. Therefore, in order to get rid of the smell, it is necessary to eliminate the disease itself by undergoing complex treatment under the supervision of a doctor. It is worth noting that alcohol can also provoke an unpleasant odor. Therefore, it must be abandoned at all stages of therapy. If, after a full course of treatment, an unpleasant odor begins to bother you again, you need to retake the tests and, together with your doctor, determine how to solve the problem.
The smell of ammonia from the mouth: treatment
As mentioned earlier, the underlying disease must be cured. But there are still cases when the smell is inconsistent. Then it can be eliminated in the following ways:
- Pay attention to tongue while brushing your teeth;
- chew natural coffee beans.
Preventive action
Standard oral odor prevention measures should be followed to avoid odor:
1. Stick to proper nutrition.
2. Visit the dentist every six months.
3. Monitor your he alth and treat various diseases in time.
4. refrain frombad habits.
5. Brush your teeth daily and take good care of your mouth.
6. Eat more fruits and vegetables.
It is important to remember that behind such a small ailment, a serious he alth problem can be hidden. Don't delay your visits to the doctor - it is easier to treat the disease at an early stage.
If the smell problem is due to a dental disease, you need to go to the clinic. The doctor will provide full assistance, as well as tell you in detail how to care for the oral cavity and how to properly brush your teeth.
If an unpleasant smell is associated with kidney disease or diabetes, you should go for a consultation with an endocrinologist. He will conduct a comprehensive diagnosis of the state of the body and make a course of treatment.
You can't do without the help of specialists, since it is impossible to make a correct diagnosis for yourself. Do not self-medicate, especially treat a child on your own. Improper therapy can harm the baby. Timely access to a doctor is the key to a quick recovery.
