Smelling own breath?

integral · Post by **integral** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 11:39 pm

I've heard it a lot that it's not possible to smell one's own breath. But I don't understand why people say so. I can eat fish, meat, orange, cheese, chew gum and smell the associated smells very well by just cupping my hands and exhaling.
So, if I can't smell anything bad when I do so, does it mean I don't have bad breath?

Are other people actually able to smell their breath or not?

Hal · Post by **Hal** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 12:00 am

Hi Integral,

As I understand it.... The reason we can't smell our own bad breath is because our sense of smell becomes accustomed to it ...to the point where it ignores it so to speak and we only smell things that are foreign to our inherent smell. I don't know if that is the real reason or not but I think we can all testify to the fact that we all have had days when we thought our breath smelled fine and found out otherwise with the help of someone elses actions or comments.

Hal

integral · Post by **integral** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 12:12 am

Hi Hal. Well, if it's so then why do many people on this forum write that they can sense a feeling of freshness or taste in their mouth? Wouldn't their taste also become accustomed to that like their noses?

When I chew a gum, I'm also afraid of speaking to someone, sometimes even more than if I don't chew a gum. And that's because I'm afraid that the smell of the gum might be irritating other people too, or something like that. I really don't know.

DRASTIC · Post by **DRASTIC** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 6:12 pm

Hi integral,

I also cannot smell my badbreath.

I think Hal is right its that our body has become accustomised to our bad breath that we cannot smell it.

I can smell my breath if I have milk or meat or cheese and not brush right after eating. Also I can smell my morning breath. But thats about it. During the day I cant smell any type of bad breath.

So, we must be used to smelling our own smell that we only notice external smells.

Drastic

smelly cat · Post by **smelly cat** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 6:30 pm

this is true-i can never smell my own breath. i know the cupping your hands trick doesn't work cause when i do that i never smell anything. yet when i'm around people they will let me know that is not the case.

DRASTIC · Post by **DRASTIC** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 6:52 pm

smellycat,

Could you tell me if you dont mind what reactions you get when you ae out in public?

Do they tell you to your face? or make comments?

Drastic

smelly cat · Post by **smelly cat** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 7:05 pm

A few people have actually said it to me. But they phrase it as a bad breath joke. I was going to meet with one of my "friends" and I told her I was going to get ready. She was like "don't forget to brush your teeth," and then there was an awkward silence and she was like you were supposed to laugh at that. My cousin has told me also in a joking way and back in high school a few people made "bad breath" comments. Lately I just get reactions from people like nose rubbing, weird faces and I was talking to this girl in class last week and she actually was covering her nose with her hand but still talking to me.

DRASTIC · Post by **DRASTIC** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 7:12 pm

hey smellycat,

I am so sorry that you had to go through all that. i know what you mean it can be extremely difficult.

Sorry.

Drastic

jane · Post by **jane** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 7:18 pm

I can smell my own breath. its coming from my throat so every time i exhale i can smell it. its very exhausting when you are constantly aware but i guess it can also be an advantage. at times when i have fewer tonsils stones lodged in the lingual crypts, i have to close my throat and exhale to smell it. i also need to concentrate when i do that ; for some reason i cant listen to music and do that simultaneously.

has anyone here bought a throat irrigator? PLEASE tell me if you did. i need to know if by "throat" they mean where the visible tonsils are, b/c i dont even consider that a part of the throat. does the tip go inside the throat and blast them out?

also, i need to know who on here has a successful method to extracting stones fron inside the throat. i have yet to buy an ear curett but i read somewhere that may help. ive tried coughing, gargling, you name it...

DRASTIC · Post by **DRASTIC** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 7:34 pm

Hi Jane,

I just read your comments.

I just wanted to ask you about how is it that you can see your lingual tonsils?

I am aware that we have 2 palatine tonsils at the sides of the throat- one on the left and one on the right.

And that you have a lingual tonsil at the far base of the tongue, way pass the bumps at the back of the tongue.

How is it possible for you to see tonsil stones on the lingual tonsil so far back? That area is quite sensitive and should not be messed with.

i know about this becasue I had a tonsillectomy done. I had my 2 tonsils left and right removed. and by the way I still have bad breath.

before I had the tonsils removed I used to use an irrigator and it helped but only use it on the lowest setting because if you turn it up high you could end up tearing your tonsil flesh causing more infection.

i hope you find a way to extract those tonsil stones safely.

I used to be able to smell a horrible smell from my throat but it turned out to be tonsil stones. I used to smell these horrible shitty smell everytime I breathed out. And it drove me MAD.

All I can say is if you get rid of the tonsil stones by manually cleaning your tonsils then you might notice a lessening of the smell. But try to look at other areas becasue wisdom tooth and other tooth cavities etc can cause bad breath as well. Keep your options open and check every possible area before you rule out anyone.

Good luck with your search for a cure.

Drastic

jane · Post by **jane** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 8:59 pm

drastic, i cant SEE my lingual tonsils silly! lol but i know that mine are holding the stones and they're quite large. unfortunately, no doctor wants to ***k with that area unless you have a huge growth or something so im left here- miserable- to try and figure out a way to get to it.

i really wish doctors were more sensitive about this issue. if someone's bb is bad enough to fill up a confined space, and is a persistant problem, then the tonsils need to be taken out thats it! people get surgery on things that "inconvenience" them all the time, i dont see how there isnt at least a cosmetic surgeon for these types of things.

when i did research on the lingual tonsils, it even stated chronic halitosis as a reason for extraction. and exactly where is this happening???

integral · Post by **integral** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 9:05 pm

Drastic - what makes you think you still have bb?

integral · Post by **integral** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 9:18 pm

jane, if you insist sufficiently enough, you will get the surgery you want. Try different docs etc. Be persistent.

DRASTIC · Post by **DRASTIC** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 9:31 pm

Hi Jane

I understand what you mean now.

I see what you mean.

Now from my research not much doctors want to operate on that area but there are a few doctors who would want to operate if you insist.

Jane, If you really want this sorted then possibly find a specialist doctor who can help you.

Maybe he might be able to extract the stones for you without actual surgery.

I will have to do some research to find out which specialist doctors can treat that area.

I will keep you posted.

I truly feel for you Jane and hope you can get this sorted soon so you can be happy.

Drastic

DRASTIC · Post by **DRASTIC** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 9:38 pm

Hi integral,

You asked how I know I still have bad breath after the surgery?

Well, I have been told that I have bad breath from open comments which people made after my surgery.

Drastic