Determining the presence of bad breath is very problematic. At first, one can only guess about his presence, since the receptors responsible for the sense of smell quickly get used to new smells. But people around you can hint at an existing problem.
An 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 all the responsibility to such a problem as the smell of ammonia from the mouth.
Factors that influence the appearance of this odor can be completely different. Here are the main ones that are most often found.
Kidney disease
The smell of ammonia from the mouth can appear in case of impaired functioning of the kidneys - a unique “filter” of the human body that removes metabolic products. Impaired renal function causes a malfunction in the excretion of metabolic products. The latter are carried throughout the body, enter the bloodstream, lungs and become an integral part of exhaled air.
Along the way, symptoms such as a change in blood pressure, swelling, and pain in the lower back indicate a violation of the kidneys. Common diagnoses are renal dystrophy, tubule disease, and renal failure.
Is ammonia odor caused by starvation?
A person who overly restricts himself in food and drinks exposes the body to starvation. And this, in turn, negatively affects the work of all organs, including the kidneys. The latter lose the ability to process waste and excrete urine from the body. Impaired renal function is one of the causes of ammonia from the mouth. To get rid of such an unpleasant phenomenon, you need to reconsider your diet and just start eating.
Why else can the smell of ammonia from my mouth appear? The reasons are listed below.
Diabetes
People who have diabetes should pay great attention to the unpleasant odor, the cause of which is the accumulation of glucose, which leads to the formation of ketone bodies - the cause of the described problem. Concomitant signs of diabetes are dry mouth, weakness, the appearance of pigmentation on the body, and itchy skin. Frequent urination, constantly thirsty. The body feels a lack of fluid.
Carbohydrate rejection
Protein diet can be an odor factor. Diets that are based on the rejection of carbohydrates are accompanied by bad breath.
The shortage of fats and carbohydrates by the body leads to the fact that all its systems begin to use their own reserves of glycogen and fats as an energy source. In the process of their processing, the formation of ketone bodies occurs, first entering the bloodstream, then to the lungs. On exhalation, the occurrence of halitosis is observed.
Medication
Bad breath 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 consult your doctor to eliminate the ailment.
Risk factors
A person does not always know about the presence of an unpleasant odor from his mouth. And others may not inform him of this. 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 breath of ammonia from the mouth can be unstable, that is, appear only at certain hours. For example, in many patients there was a smell in the morning, before the meal. With his constant feeling, in order to avoid negative consequences, you should immediately consult a doctor.
Symptomatology
How to check if there is an ammonia breath in an adult? It is best to 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 odor from the oral cavity:
- moisten a small area of skin with saliva on your wrist and immediately smell it;
- put cotton wool under the tongue, hold it inside for a few seconds so that it gets wet, and then smell it;
- can also help floss for brushing your teeth, you can smell it:
- the most effective way is to see a doctor who will confirm or deny the presence of smell with full confidence.
Having found out that an unpleasant odor is emanating from the oral cavity, how to determine that it is ammonia? To do this, we describe what it most often looks like. It causes associations with the smell of urine, ammonia or spoiled (rotten) products.
Note that the ammonia odor differs from many others in that it is highly caustic and specific. Therefore, it is very difficult to confuse it with some other unpleasant odor.
Bad breath of ammonia from a child’s mouth
In a baby, the appearance of halitosis may indicate problems with the liver. This may include cirrhosis, liver failure, chronic hepatitis. In this case, the appearance of an unpleasant odor is accompanied by a general malaise.
An unpleasant odor, manifested against the background of nausea, may indicate the presence of diabetes mellitus. Parents should immediately consult a doctor to conduct a full examination, make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe effective treatment.
That is why the smell of ammonia from the child is dangerous. The reasons may be different.
A chronic condition in which a person develops a persistent unpleasant odor is called halitosis. It smells bad even after brushing your teeth and using dental floss. In 80% of cases, the dentist will help to solve this problem, since the most probable causes of halitosis are gum disease, caries, and cracks in the fillings.
How can I remove the smell of ammonia from the child’s mouth?
Tips by Dr. Komarovsky
If the smell is caused by some kind of disease, then you need to treat it. Often, odors arise without concomitant diseases, so it is necessary to control the hygiene of children and adhere to certain rules:
1. The surface of the tongue of the child must be cleaned every day with a bandage. In older children, cleaning is carried out with a special brush.
2. The baby's nutrition should be correct and include all the necessary vitamins.
3. Brush your teeth every day. Children up to two years old clean them with a special silicone brush, and then you can carry out the procedure with an ordinary children's brush.
4. Visit the dentist at least once every six months.
5. It is forbidden to eat candies and spray the oral cavity with special sprays for freshness of breath until the age of seven.
This will help to remove the smell of ammonia from the child’s mouth. Komarovsky advises parents to measure their child’s temperature when they detect bad breath. If the temperature rises, you need to immediately go to the hospital, as this indicates the presence of infection in the baby's body.
Adult Bad Smell
Why can an adult smell ammonia from the mouth? The reasons are as follows.
In the patient, the smell is accompanied by various concomitant diseases. Therefore, in order to get rid of the smell, it is necessary to eliminate the disease itself, having undergone comprehensive treatment under the supervision of a doctor. It is worth noting that alcohol can also trigger an unpleasant odor. Therefore, it is necessary to refuse it at the entire stage of therapy. If after a full course of treatment an unpleasant odor starts to bother you again, you must re-take the tests and determine with your doctor how to solve the problem.
The smell of ammonia from the mouth: treatment
As mentioned earlier, it is necessary to cure the underlying disease. But there are still cases when the smell is erratic. Then it can be eliminated in the following ways:
- pay attention to the tongue while brushing;
- to chew grains of natural coffee.
Preventive action
In order to avoid the appearance of odor, standard measures for the prevention of odor in the oral cavity must be performed:
1. Adhere to proper nutrition.
2. Visit the dentist once every six months.
3. Monitor your health and treat various diseases on time.
4. Refrain from bad habits.
5. Brush your teeth daily and take care of your oral cavity.
6. Eat more vegetables and fruits.
It is important to remember that such a small ailment can hide a serious health problem. Do not postpone visits to the doctor - it is easier to treat the disease at an early stage.
If the problem of smell is related to a dental disease, you need to contact the clinic. The doctor will provide full assistance, as well as describe in detail how to care for the oral cavity and how to properly brush your teeth.
If an unpleasant odor is associated with kidney disease or diabetes mellitus, you should go to a consultation with an endocrinologist. He will conduct a comprehensive diagnosis of the condition of the body and draw up a course of treatment.
It is impossible to do without the help of specialists, since it is impossible to make a correct diagnosis for ourselves. It is not necessary to self-medicate, especially to independently treat a child. Incorrect therapy can harm the baby. Timely access to a doctor is the key to a quick recovery.