Cured by removing wisdom teeth

[WWilmore]

I have had bad breath for a about 15 years (it started around when I was 19 and I'm now 34), the kind that people seem to be calling "fecal breath" on this site. Where, if I sneeze, I could smell the rotten odor at the back of my tongue lingering in the air for almost a minute. The kind that would make people cover their noses when I talk, even if they were several meters away from me in an air-conditioned room.

Here were some other quirks of my breath: (1) Brushing my teeth with normal toothpaste actually made it worse (2) Drinking red wine or beer made it worse (but not hard stuff like whiskey or brandy).

I learned after a while that the only thing that did marginally improve my breath was salt water gargles. I discovered this because I tested my breath by swiping a finger over the back of my tongue, let it air dry for a few seconds, then take a sniff. And it nearly always STANK! Except when I gargled and brushed my teeth with salt water. But it came back no matter what.

And now I am cured.

Here's the first step I took that partially cured me: I originally thought my bad breath came from the dental bridge I had over my upper incisors was the culprit since I had them installed ten years ago, the same time my breath problems began. I decided to remove them and have implants installed and so I decided to visit an implant specialist/periodontist. Luckily, I visited a very honest and competent one and she recommended that I instead give my gums a deep cleaning since that's more likely the culprit. So I got a deep cleaning from the same doctor and it definitely improved my breath for a few months. But it did not completely cure me since the weakened smell became stronger as time went by. Anyway, if you're having breath problems, try having your gums cleaned as a first step. It might work depending on your condition.

And here's how I got completely cured (I'm nearly certain). I visited a second general dentist because my periodontist recommended I get a second opinion from a generalist. He said my gums are partly to blame but he said that he had more suspicions about my partially impacted wisdom teeth. He recommended that I have them removed, so I set up an appointment with an oral surgeon and had them removed a few months after my deep gum cleaning.

I had my wisdom teeth removed two days ago. All three wisdom teeth were partially impacted, two were on the bottom and one was on the upper left. I had all three removed. Because of the dentists recommendations, I haven't been able to brush my teeth since the surgery. All I've been able to do is salt water gargles. And as far as I can tell, there is no odor in my mouth. I've swiped my fingers over the back of my tongue, let it dry for a while, then smelled it and there is nothing.

Maybe I'm popping the champagne bottle a little to early, but judging by the very informed, amazing post here (viewtopic.php?t=1358), and my first two days post-surgery, I feel confident that my breath problems have been cured at the root. I'll later update this post once a few weeks have past and I've been able to actually talk to people and see how they react to me.

[WickedCurse]

I definitely need to have my wisdom teeth checked out. Nearly 3 years ago, my dentist said "we're going to have to probably take out those wisdom teeth this summer." I still haven't.

Your BB when you sneeze sounds exactly like mine. Whenever I sneeze, I get a very potent whiff of my normal BB.

I'm still having a hard time figuring out the source of my BB. I have it narrowed down to either gastro problems, wisdom teeth, or some form of an infection.

Please, do keep us updated about your condition.

[guzler]

congratulation WWilmore

i have a little question did you have nose breath also or just from your mouth?

thanks

[waitingforrelief]

congratulations, WWilmore, that's great news!

i'm scheduled to have my one remaining wisdom tooth removed in a few weeks.

i have a few questions:
did you have that "fecal" odor when you flossed between other teeth as well?

I have one impacted wisdom tooth in my mouth, but there's one molar on the other side which feels very uncomfortable and the gums by it feel "flappy" and sometimes are painful. I have smelled odors on the floss when i tried to get in there even though i feel like i can't really get in there.

i've not really thought too much about it since my dentist didn't seem to think anything's wrong with it so i just kind of dismissed my discomfort. it is now making me think if that's part of the culprit for me as well.

anyway, congratulations to you. what great news.

[WWilmore]

i have a little question did you have nose breath also or just from your mouth?

It was just from my mouth.

[WWilmore]

did you have that "fecal" odor when you flossed between other teeth as well?

Before I had my gums cleaned, yes. After, no. But I still had BB, which I'm now near certain was because of my wisdom teeth.

i've not really thought too much about it since my dentist didn't seem to think anything's wrong with it so i just kind of dismissed my discomfort. it is now making me think if that's part of the culprit for me as well.

I'm not a dentist, but my personal experience is turning me into a cheerleader for wisdom tooth removal. Since you're going to get it removed anyway, you'll find out soon enough. I sincerely hope that it works out for you as it seems to be working out for me.

[halitosisux]

Congrats WWilmore. Sounds so similar to what happened to me except I had no problems requiring deep cleaning. I had no nasal odour either. My dentist also told me my bottom two wisdom teeth needed to come out in my early 20's but I had no idea the situation was producing odour until about 15 years later. As soon as the tooth came out I knew this was it. I still have a horizontally impacted unerupted lower wisdom tooth on the other side but at the moment its not causing any problems and I'm still shit scared to risk doing anything that might risk BB coming back. I used to have really bad tongue odour and a mouth that felt like my breath was inflammable, but now I dont have any at all.

[WWilmore]

I still have a horizontally impacted unerupted lower wisdom tooth on the other side but at the moment its not causing any problems and I'm still shit scared to risk doing anything that might risk BB coming back.

I agree. Why stir the pot if your problem is solved.

I used to have really bad tongue odour and a mouth that felt like my breath was inflammable, but now I dont have any at all.

It's still only two days for me, and from reading what you guys wrote, it seems the odor can come and go for a few days (or weeks) even if the wisdom teeth are the culprit so I won't get too dispirited if the smell returns over the next few weeks. But, yeah, I'm pretty sure I nabbed the bad guy, because the back of my tongue never ever smelled this good, even though I haven't brushed or flossed in two days!

I'll resume my regular cleaning regimen once the incisions close up a little.

[john]

in about 3 hours my left lower wisdom tooth will be removed!

[WickedCurse]

Please guys, keep us updated. Gives us some hope and pleases us that you guys are doing well.

[EHartig]

Yeah, I still have mine and need to get them removed. Food will get stuck in them and won't help to keep everything very hygienic, so need to brush tooth and use toothpicks often!

[WickedCurse]

Wilmore, how is it going? Still BB-free?

[WWilmore]

Wilmore, how is it going? Still BB-free?

It's been about a month now since the surgery and I'm pretty sure the BB is gone. I've tried several tests: swiping my fingers on the back of my tongue and smelling, sneezing and smelling, drooling while sleeping and then smelling. All are clean.

The smell did come and go for the first two weeks after surgery but disappeared around third week. There's still a largish hole where my bottom left wisdom tooth used to be but it's healing up nicely and it's apparently not causing any odor problems.

The verdict in my case is that wisdom teeth removal cured my BB.

[Bb5yrs]

Wilmore, how is it going? Still BB-free?

It's been about a month now since the surgery and I'm pretty sure the BB is gone. I've tried several tests: swiping my fingers on the back of my tongue and smelling, sneezing and smelling, drooling while sleeping and then smelling. All are clean.

The smell did come and go for the first two weeks after surgery but disappeared around third week. There's still a largish hole where my bottom left wisdom tooth used to be but it's healing up nicely and it's apparently not causing any odor problems.

The verdict in my case is that wisdom teeth removal cured my BB.

Can you tell me about the condition of your wisdom teeth? did they have any pockets? anything worth mentioning? any symptoms?