Bad Breath Halitosis Forum

The first time I found out I had bad breath was my freshman year of high school. I said something and my friend said what is that smell. That was probably that last time that I ever really talked. It took my 5 years to graduate because I never talked at all in any of my classes unless I really had to. I knew I had bad breath because of the way people would act around me when I did talked. They would cover there nose or turn away and they would never want me to be around them. I never really had any close friends and when I did make friends I couldn't keep them for long. As soon as I talked they would try to avoid me. Since then I have been on my own for the most part. I would hang out with my brothers and there friends and they would always ask me way don't I talk, but I could never tell them because I felt that they wouldn't accept me. Not even my family will tell me how bad it is. I once asked my older brother and he told me that I don't have BB, but they never asked me why I don't talk, its because they already now why. My mom also has BB but hers isn't as bad as mine, she could chew on some gum or just drink some water and it would go away.

I currently have a full time job and I don't even talk there at all. I have been there for two years going on my third. Recently my supervisor told me that I have been working real hard and has decided to give me a promotion to crew leader and that means that now I have to talk. I have to tell people what to do and sometimes I go into work confident and I go in and find out what we are doing and go tell them and I see how they react to me and then I get real insecure and don't talk the rest of the day. There is also this girl at work that I like. I am not a ugly guy, I go to the gym and work out and i have noticed girls checking me out but I can never get the courage to say anything. Sometimes she flirts with me and I dont say anything all I do is smile. Recently I think she might know why I don't talk.

I just started to begin to solve my problem but sometimes I feel that I am to late and will never get rid of it. Ive been using a tongue scraper and mixing peroxide with water as a mouth wash. Before I would stick my finger down my mouth and rub it against that back of my tongue and my finger would have a bad smell to it. Since then I really haven't smelled anything until a rubbed my tonsil. I have known about tonsil stones for a while. I first noticed them when I got sick and they swelled and i could actually pick huge junks out. There was a post that I read that said that one guy got his removed and no longer had BB, but there was another guy that the problem worsen. In my research I found that the problem could also be caused by the lungs or stomach. I have been trying to get my self to go to the dentist but the last time I was there was probably 5-6 years ago. I have also been drinking more water, eating more fruits and vegetables. Also cutting back on eating meat and anything with a lot of sugar, like soda. There are also a few things that I have found here looking through the posts that I might try.

Putting this out there helps me feel better. Knowing that there are other people with the same problem, that I am not the only one. I would really appreciate any type of feedback. Thank you for taking the time to read this and sorry for any grammar errors

Dear 95_E38,

I understand how you feel as I have similar experience. I found that I have bad breath since Secondary School, although people around me do not spell it out, but I can see from their reaction, they closed their nose and stand apart whenever I talk to them. I felt depressed and try not to talk at all. I have been on my own and do not have close friends.

My friends and even my sisters do not say anything about my bad breath, I think they are just too polite and don't want to hurt me. Once I asked my sister whether I have bad breath, but she just skipped the question and tell me to use mouth rinse. Sigh...

Anyway, I managed to found a job after graduation, this job is more on paper work and not really require me to talk or meet with people.

I also managed to get a boy friend and finally get married with him. He is an exceptional case because he cannot smell my bad breath! Actually he had surgery his nose previously, so guess this is the reason he cannnot smell. Only in a few rare occassions he highlighted to me that I have bad breath.

Unfortunately people around me can smell my bad breath, this include my sisters, brothers, friends, strangers and especially my colleagues.

Recently my bad breath is getting worse, I can tell from the expression of my colleagues, they stand very far from me, even further than previously and close their nose when talk to me. Occassionally, even I myself can smell my own bad breath after yawning or sneeze.

I know I have to do more, so I try to brush/floss/scrap my tongue 3 times a day and use mouth rinse (without alchohol), use chlorhexidine mouth rinse, drink plenty of water, and I also take probiotic/vitamin C daily but it doesn't work. I tried to eat sugarless yogurt too, but my breath is even stink after eaten, probably due to high protein natural of yogurt.

I do not drink coffee, alchoholic drink, carbonated drink, also try to avoid milk, cheese, onion, garlic, tuna and other smelly food. I am a non-smoker, never smoke before, but somehow my breath is stink like rotten garbage.

I have seen many dentists and doing scaling/polishing half yearly, but dentists unable to find any problem with my teeth. I have extracted my wisdom teeth but it doen't work too. I also seen ENT but still cannot find what is wrong.

Now then I am putting my hope to gastroenterology. I waited 2 months to meet gastroenterology specialist, I will have an endoscopy to further assess my stomach, although this appointment will be 3 months later, I really hope can find out what is the problem and cure it. Let's fight with bad breath, we are not alone, fighting, fighting...

Hey guys, welcome to the forum. I know how good it feels to vent while doing research on the search for a cure. I know how depressed BB can make you feel, but keep in mind that MANY people on this forum have been cured through various methods. People from all walks of life, who have had BB at varying strengths and for various lengths of time, have been cured through various remedies.

Some have been cured through wisdom teeth extraction (when their teeth were impacted or partially erupted and smelly/rotten food debris would get stuck in the gum pockets).

Some have been cured through tonsillectomies. Some through adenoid removal.

Some have been cured through the use of antifungal medications to fight candida infections in the respiratory system.

Some have been cured through the diligent and continual use of nasal steroid and antihistamine sprays, coupled with oral steroids.

Some have been cured through the treatment of digestive issues with medicines like Carafate, a drug that treats reflux like symptoms and digestive ulcers.

Some have supposedly experienced success through more "unconventional" means, like taking Goldenseal or inordinate amounts of Vitamin C.

The points I am trying to make are that:
1) BB is curable, and that
2) It can be either a systemic/multifaceted problem that involves multiple body systems (problems in both the respiratory and digestive system can compound each other and result in BB) or it can be from a single source.
3) The cure can be found through trial and error of what works and what doesn't. Methodology is important. Exhaust one method before moving onto the next. Give things time to work, instead of dismissing them after one unsuccessful experience.

Good Luck!