Apples or ammonia? What does unusual breath odor indicate? Healthy Life

Main nuances

“Bad breath is scientifically called “halitosis.” It can be physiological and pathological. In the first case, they usually talk about the “aroma” that appears in the morning and disappears after morning hygiene procedures. In the second case, the appearance of such a symptom has certain medical reasons,” says Evgenia Parshina. As the immunologist notes, smoking can, for example, influence the appearance of bad breath.

Among the main causes of halitosis is poor oral hygiene, when a person does not properly care for his teeth. It can also be caused by tooth decay or plaque on the tongue. The problem can also appear, as the immunologist notes, with chronic tonsillitis.

Question answer

Why does my breath smell bad in the morning? Also often the problem is caused by diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, for example a disease such as GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). Another reason could be the presence of Helicobacter pylori bacillus in the human body, says the immunologist.

Unpleasant odors from the mouth can be felt by a person suffering from diseases of the nasal cavity, which are accompanied by postnasal drip, as well as swelling of the mucous membranes and inflammation of the adenoids in children. “In children, by the way, an unpleasant smell from the nose can also appear against the background of foreign objects in the nose, which can remain in the nasal cavity for a long time,” says Evgenia Parshina.

Diagnosis of acetone syndrome

The first signs appear at the age of two or three, by the age of seven or eight they can become more frequent, and at the age of 12-13 they usually stop.

If a child has acetone for the first time, it is necessary to contact a pediatrician, for example, a medical specialist. Acetone syndrome can only be determined by a doctor, since the smell of acetone in the urine may be a sign of insulin deficiency, and there is a risk of diabetes mellitus. In these cases, an urgent consultation with an endocrinologist, gastroenterologist and psychotherapist is required, which can be obtained here in the center.

primary - the result of poor nutrition and a sign of an unhealthy lifestyle;
secondary - consequences of infectious and endocrine diseases, damage to the central nervous system.

In addition, there is a primary idiopathic acetonomy syndrome, where the main provoking factor is a hereditary predisposition.

Diabetes

For example, Evgenia Parshina notes that with diabetes, a person can smell a fruity or apple aroma from himself. A similar manifestation is observed when following, for example, a keto diet. The smell of diabetes is quite characteristic, it is similar to the aroma of soaked, fermented apples and resembles acetone. In people suffering from diabetes, there is a sharp increase in blood glucose levels, and ketone bodies begin to be released. Under starvation conditions, cells begin to actively use fats and proteins, including those stored for future use by the body, and when they break down, acetone begins to appear.

Symptoms and diagnosis of ammonia odor

A symptom such as bad breath often occurs suddenly. The person feels serious discomfort. To recognize the disease at home, you need to put a cotton swab under your tongue for a second, then take it out and smell it. There are special diagnostics at the dentist, which is carried out using modern equipment. If necessary, ultrasound, x-rays, tests, and tomography are prescribed. The disease may be indicated by:

Nausea, weakness, vomiting, impaired urination, fainting.
Abdominal pain, dry mouth, thirst appear with diabetes. In this condition, you should call an ambulance.
High excitability, irritability, anxiety, and poor concentration may occur. The patient's heart will work intermittently, and sweating will increase.

Kidney problems

“Another chronic disease that can lead to the appearance of an unusual odor is kidney failure,” says Evgenia Parshina. Thus, with diseases of the urinary system, for example nephrosis, pyelonephritis, etc., manifestations of the smell of ammonia may be observed. Usually this kind of smell appears already in the terminal stage. The mechanism by which the odor appears is that the main source of ammonia is the catabolism of amino acids and the breakdown of other nitrogen-containing compounds in tissues, including the kidneys. An imbalance leads to the accumulation of a substance in the blood.

Salty taste. What diseases does this symptom indicate? More details

Why appearances

Keep in mind! Ammonia is produced in the body during the breakdown of proteins and fats.

In a healthy person, this natural process ends very quickly; toxic breakdown products are easily eliminated from the body.
The smell of ammonia from the mouth indicates problems in the functioning of individual organs that cannot cope with toxins.
If ammonia cannot leave the body through the genitourinary system, it exits through the lungs. This is why the smell of ammonia comes from your mouth.

At best, the cause of an unpleasant odor may be improper oral care ; at worst, it may be the appearance of pathology .

In most cases, bad breath occurs as a result of diseases of the teeth and gums. Much less often, the cause lies in the pathology of the internal organs.

Main reasons

For your information! There are several known reasons for the appearance of ammonia odor from the mouth:

Poor nutrition. Poor diet is one of the reasons for the appearance of uncharacteristic odors from the mouth. When there is a lack of nutrients in the body, the process of active breakdown of stored fats begins to replenish energy. Excess protein in the menu disrupts the functioning of the kidneys and liver due to overload. Improper functioning of these organs makes it difficult to remove ammonia from the body naturally. Excessive consumption of foods enriched with proteins causes rapid breakdown of fats, which means increased formation of ketone bodies. The body, not accustomed to such a load, cannot remove ketones in a timely manner; they accumulate in the body, causing an unpleasant odor.
Restrictions on drinking and eating. For normal functioning of the kidneys, a large amount of water is required, if it is not enough, it means that it is difficult to remove waste products through the kidneys. This leads to stale breath from the mouth. Hunger forces the body to process stored fats and proteins to replenish missing nutrients. As a result, the level of ketone bodies in the blood increases significantly.
Liver diseases. Ammonia is filtered through the liver and eliminated from the body by the urinary system. When liver function is impaired, the filtration of ammonia compounds slows down, which provokes the accumulation of ketones in the blood plasma.
Taking medications that contain amino acids and nitrogen. Such drugs include:

ACTI-5 is prescribed to children with growth retardation and poor appetite.
Biotredin is used to improve performance.
Glycine is prescribed for frequent stress, vegetative-vascular dystonia, lack of sleep, and alcoholism.
Methionine is used in the treatment of kidneys and diabetes.
Moriamin Forte is prescribed during pregnancy and lactation.

Diabetes. The main characteristic of this disease is high blood glucose levels. Tissues cannot cope with the absorption of glucose, so the required amount of useful elements does not reach the cells. To replenish the required amount of vitamins and minerals, fats begin to break down at an accelerated pace, thereby forming much more ketone bodies. Ketones, when accumulated in the blood, have a toxic effect on the body, which leads to the appearance of an ammonia odor from urine, skin and breath.
Kidney diseases such as nephrosis, renal dystrophy, renal failure. This leads to serious disruptions in the functioning of the renal tubules, due to which normal metabolism occurs. Pathological changes lead to the accumulation of ketone bodies.
Thyrotoxicosis is a disease of the endocrine system, namely the thyroid gland, in which the level of thyroid hormone increases. This hormone is responsible for metabolism; its increase leads to faster metabolism. An accelerated metabolism affects weight loss.

Hyperthyroidism

The smell of iodine from the mouth also indicates problems in the body. Usually, when such a signal appears, doctors send the person to be checked for problems with the thyroid gland, in particular hyperthyroidism. It is this gland that is associated with iodine. When the body has a problem with the production of hormones, it does not have enough capacity to work properly and dispose of everything unnecessary and excess, the accumulation of substances begins. Hence the smell. Also, sometimes the appearance of an iodine odor indicates problems from taking hormonal medications. And sometimes it appears during tooth decay as an oxidative reaction.

Question answer

How to eliminate the smell of onions and garlic?

Treatment options

It is important to carry out periodontal treatment in a timely manner in order to prevent pathologies of the periodontal tissues. Healthy bone tissue, gums, and ligaments are the key to oral health. It is imperative to respond to such a signal as bad breath. By consulting a doctor, you can identify the exact cause of the disease. Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, and thyroid gland are treated by specialized specialists. Dental problems are solved by a dentist.

The ammonia smell, which is temporary, can be eliminated as follows:

Drinking plenty of water;
Cleaning your tongue and teeth;
Adding carbohydrates to the menu;

Serious illnesses, such as diabetic ketoacidosis, are treated in a hospital. The patient is given insulin to save him from a coma.

Treatment in the clinic

Modern methods of dental treatment make it possible to achieve good results. The sooner the patient seeks help, the easier and faster the therapy will be. In addition to eliminating the underlying disease, treatment of bad breath is carried out with hexoral. The substance can inhibit many bacteria. Miramistin is widely used among bactericidal drugs. It fights gram-positive and negative microorganisms. They wash the bladder. A universal remedy is stopangin, which destroys bacteria, fungi, and infections. The drugs are prescribed by the attending physician.

Folk remedies

If your breath smells like ammonia, you can get rid of it after eliminating the disease. To freshen your breath:

Changes in diet should be made.
Rinse your mouth with a decoction of oak bark, chamomile, sage, and mint.
You can use vegetable oil to rinse and then spit it out.
Hydrogen peroxide and water are often used. The product kills bacteria and refreshes the oral cavity.
Coffee beans quickly eliminate bad breath. You need to chew it, holding it in your mouth for a few minutes.

The patient should avoid excessive consumption of protein foods, alcohol-containing drinks, and tobacco.

Anemia

A metallic taste from the mouth indicates the development of anemia. It develops against the background of an increase in the concentration of metal ions in the body. With anemia, the transport of hemoglobin is impaired. It is also sometimes called iron. As a result, a complete imbalance of the human condition begins.

Naturally, such a problem should not be ignored: any manifestations of some foreign aroma should be determined by taking tests and consulting with a specialist. You can start with a therapist: he will be alert to a particular disease and will offer examination options, and then therapy. You cannot leave the situation to chance, hoping that it will go away on its own. After all, there is a risk of the pathological process turning into a chronic one: treating it, as we know, is much more difficult, longer and more expensive. And the result is unpredictable.

There are contraindications, you should consult your doctor

Physiological change in bad breath

If parents smell a child’s breath, the doctor looks for the reasons for this phenomenon in three completely different directions.

Physiological disorders associated with a temporary decrease in saliva production.

This can happen if:

eating spicy or fried foods;
large intervals between meals;
insufficient amount of fluid drunk;
long outdoor games;
being in a stuffy room;
excessively wrapping the child;
strong excitement;
taking certain medications.

The mechanism for the appearance of odor is due to the fact that it is saliva that has a bactericidal effect, regulating the number and composition of microflora in the mouth. When the mucous membrane is dry, the activity of bacteria is activated. This produces hydrogen sulfide, which has a pronounced tint.

Physiological disorders leading to halitosis can be easily eliminated without medical intervention. It is important to change the child's lifestyle. Increase the amount of fluid you drink, optimize your diet, normalize the psycho-emotional background in the family and reduce the duration of outdoor games. But in some cases, an unpleasant odor turns out to be the first alarm signal indicating a developing pathology.

Unpleasant ammonia smell: how to get rid of it

If the smell of ammonia from a person occurs due to certain diseases, then without adequate therapy and elimination of the pathogenic factor, it will not be possible to get rid of the stench.

When the stench is physiological in nature, it is quite possible to eliminate unpleasant “fragrances”. To do this, you should follow fairly simple rules:

take a shower daily. In the cold season, you need to wash once a day; in the summer heat, you should wash at least twice a day. A person involved in sports, in addition to a morning or evening shower, needs to wash after each workout. At the same time, areas that are characterized by excessive sweating should be washed with special care;
It is best to use antibacterial soap for washing, but you should avoid shampoos or choose them with extreme caution. The fact is that most liquid detergents contain substances that cause dry skin. And this contributes to the development of pathogenic flora in vulnerable areas;
after water procedures, problem areas should be treated with deodorants or antiperspirants;
when a person smells of ammonia, then when buying clothes he should opt for products made from natural materials. The best fabrics in such cases will be cotton and linen, which have excellent ventilation properties;
There is no need to walk around all day in clothes soaked with sweat, because moisture-soaked fabric promotes the proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms. People with excessive sweating should change into dry and clean clothes as often as possible;
If your feet smell like ammonia, then you need to buy shoes made of genuine leather. In the summer season, it is better to wear open shoes, providing access to fresh air. If you must comply with a dress code in which shoes are required, then you need to wear natural thin socks;
find time to exercise. Regular and moderate physical activity prevents weight gain, improves metabolic processes and helps remove toxins from the body;
exclude fatty, smoked, sour and spicy foods from the diet or consume them in minimal quantities. Avoid alcoholic drinks and especially beer, which causes the smell of ammonia in your sweat.

In addition, people prone to excessive sweating need to increase the amount of aluminum and zinc in the body with the help of special preparations. These elements prevent the proliferation of harmful bacteria and accordingly reduce the intensity of the pungent odor.

In cases where a person follows all the above recommendations, but the smell of ammonia does not disappear, then you should definitely consult a doctor to determine the cause of the stench.

Eliminating ammonia odor using folk remedies

Sweat with the smell of ammonia, the causes of which do not require complex therapy, can be eliminated with the help of medicinal herbs and traditional medicine recipes:

You can reduce the intensity of sweating in the summer season, especially in extreme heat, with the help of sage. One cup of tea from this plant throughout the day will provide the body with tone and reduce the activity of the sweat glands. Tea should be consumed without sugar;
natural vegetable oils perfectly reduce sweating in people with dry skin. The greatest effect is provided by sage or eucalyptus oil. The compositions applied to problem areas moisturize the skin well and reduce the amount of sweating. Oils can also be used during bath procedures, adding a few drops to the water;
baths with the aroma of pine needles help get rid of the nasty ammonia smell. The flavonoids contained in pine effectively relieve tension, soothe the skin and reduce the intensity of sweating;
Baths will help eliminate the smell of ammonia from your feet. An effective remedy is salt added to water. It attracts toxins and ammonia accumulated in the pores of the epidermis; only after a bath, your feet should be washed in clean water and wiped dry. Baths with the addition of crushed oak or sage bark will be useful for combating the ammonia stench. In addition to the therapeutic effect, such compositions saturate the skin of the feet with a pleasant herbal aroma.

There are also many other recipes and compositions, the use of which can, if not completely eliminate, then significantly reduce the smell of ammonia from sweat. Only to achieve results you need to follow the treatment regimen with a specific remedy and then you can get rid of the strong stench.

Prevention of unpleasant odor

It is necessary to pay special attention to the hygiene of your body in the event of any unpleasant odors, because it is uncleanliness that provokes the active reproduction of pathogenic flora.

But what should people do who carefully look after themselves, adhere to a diet, and yet their sweat smells of ammonia, why is there such a stench?

The reasons for this aroma may be health problems. To determine them, you need to contact a specialist, undergo a comprehensive examination, and pass all the necessary tests. This is the only way to discover the true causes of ammonia body odor. The doctor will determine with maximum accuracy the sources of the stench and prescribe the necessary treatment that will help the human body to remain always fresh and healthy.

Attention! You cannot self-medicate. Wrong actions can further complicate the situation and aggravate pathological conditions.

How to remove ammonia smell from shoes

The smell of ammonia from a person causes him many problems. For example, when the feet sweat, the moisture released soaks into the shoes, the smell of which is very noticeable. How to eliminate the strong stench from shoes, sneakers or other footwear?

Hydrogen peroxide is considered a simple and very good remedy. It is necessary to moisten a sponge or rag with the solution and thoroughly wipe all internal surfaces of the product.

Baking soda absorbs all kinds of odors well. Pour a layer of baking soda into stinking shoes and leave overnight. By morning the smell will completely disappear or be almost inaudible.

Another effective way to eliminate the stench of ammonia-smelling sweat is to dry your shoes every time you come home. If there are insoles, they need to be removed and dried too. It is the humid environment that promotes the growth of bacteria, which creates an unpleasant odor.