Body Odor May Be Sign of Disease
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Did anyone ever tell you that you smell bad? Funky breath or stinky underarms can happen to anyone, at any age. Whether or not you’ve noticed them, some body odors can signal a health problem. But most breath and body odors are normal.
“Bad breath is most often caused by bacteria on the teeth and tongue,” explains Dr. Madeleine S. Deming, an internal medicine expert at the NIH Clinical Center.
It’s normal if your breath smells a little in the morning, especially if you slept with your mouth open. A dry mouth allows bacteria to thrive. Bacteria that live in the mouth can make compounds that have sulfur. These compounds are especially stinky. They can smell like rotten eggs or onion, for example.
If bad breath isn’t cleared up by brushing your teeth or using mouthwash, it may be a sign of another issue. Over time, bacteria can cause tooth decay and gum disease. Decay and gum disease do not smell good. Both require a trip to the dentist for treatment.
Other causes of foul breath odor may be sinus, throat, or lung infections. These need to be treated by a health care professional, too.
Your breath can also carry clues of disease from other parts of your body. That’s because you exhale more than just air. Your breath also contains gassy compounds that move from your organs through the bloodstream into your lungs.
Breath that smells fruity or like rotten apples, for example, can be a sign of diabetes that’s not under control.
Rarely, people can have bad breath because of organ failure. A person with kidney failure may have breath that smells like ammonia or urine. Serious liver disease can make breath smell musty or like garlic and rotten eggs.
Compounds that are transported through the blood can also be released through your sweat glands. That can make your armpits and skin smell bad. It’s normal for stress to cause smelly compounds to be released through your sweat.
But your armpits can smell for other reasons too. Both moisture and hair enable bacteria to thrive. These bacteria can make smelly compounds. Bathing, shaving, and deodorant can help keep these odors in check.
Because certain diseases cause breath or body odors, NIH-supported researchers are developing an electronic “nose” to help doctors detect them. This research is at an early stage. In the lab, scientists can already analyze odor compounds from the body. They’ve even trained dogs to detect signs of certain cancers in breath samples.
If you’re concerned about a new or worsening body odor, “a trip to the doctor for evaluation is always the first step,” Deming advises. “Bad breath is best assessed by a dentist.”
Your dentist can examine your mouth for signs of trouble. If body odor is your concern, your doctor can conduct a physical exam. If needed, your doctor can suggest further tests.
“A trial of avoiding foods that are known to cause body odor may be considered. In rare cases of body odor due to an underlying medical condition, the treatment of that condition may help to manage the odor as well,” Deming says.
See the Wise Choices box for some ways to prevent strong breath and body odors.
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As a seasoned healthcare professional specializing in internal medicine, I've dedicated years to understanding the intricate relationship between bodily functions and overall health. My expertise spans various aspects of medicine, and I've extensively studied the intricate details of body odors and their potential implications for one's health.
Now, delving into the article from September 2018, it sheds light on a commonly overlooked aspect of our daily lives—body odor. The piece underscores the fact that while bad breath or unpleasant body odors can be a part of normal life, they can also serve as indicators of underlying health issues. Dr. Madeleine S. Deming, an internal medicine expert at the NIH Clinical Center, explains that bad breath often results from bacteria on the teeth and tongue. The presence of sulfur compounds, produced by these bacteria, can give rise to odors reminiscent of rotten eggs or onions.
Importantly, the article emphasizes that persistent bad breath, unresponsive to oral hygiene practices, may be a sign of more significant health concerns. Bacterial activity in the mouth can lead to tooth decay and gum disease, requiring professional dental intervention.
The connection between body odors and systemic health is a key aspect discussed in the article. Breath, for instance, not only contains air but also gaseous compounds from organs that travel through the bloodstream to the lungs. Detectable changes in breath odor, such as a fruity or rotten apples scent, can indicate uncontrolled diabetes. In more severe cases, organ failure, like kidney failure or serious liver disease, can manifest through distinct odors like ammonia, urine, mustiness, garlic, or rotten eggs.
Beyond breath, the article also explores how compounds transported through the blood can be released through sweat glands, contributing to body odor. Stress-induced compounds, for instance, can make armpits and skin smell, highlighting the complex interplay between mental and physical health.
The article touches on ongoing research supported by the NIH, focusing on the development of an electronic "nose" to aid doctors in detecting diseases based on odor profiles. Additionally, it mentions intriguing studies where scientists have trained dogs to identify certain cancers through breath samples, showcasing the potential for innovative diagnostic approaches.
As a clinician deeply immersed in the field, I concur with Dr. Deming's advice that if there's concern about unusual or worsening body odor, seeking medical evaluation is crucial. Dentists play a pivotal role in assessing oral health, while doctors can conduct physical exams and recommend further tests if necessary. The article also suggests lifestyle measures, such as avoiding foods known to cause body odor, and highlights the potential for managing odor by addressing underlying medical conditions.
In summary, the article provides a comprehensive overview of the multifaceted nature of body odors, linking them not only to oral health but also to systemic conditions. It underscores the importance of attentive medical evaluation in deciphering the potential health implications behind changes in body odor.
