From nail ridges to tongue discoloration, your body drops constant clues about your health—your breath just might be one of the loudest — www.naijnaira.com reports.
A recent analysis published by the Daily Mail reveals that unusual mouth odours may reflect deeper health concerns, not just poor oral care.
Many people assume bad breath is only caused by skipping brushing or drinking coffee, but science suggests it can signal underlying illness.
Dental technologist Allen Zhang says, “Your breath can offer a surprising window into your health.”
He identified five breath types often ignored that could point to serious problems, including organ dysfunction and metabolic issues.
A sweet, nail polish-like scent might be tied to uncontrolled diabetes due to elevated ketones in the bloodstream.
That specific smell has been described as similar to pear drop candy or acetone.
Metallic breath may result from kidney impairment or exposure to heavy metals, where ammonia builds up due to reduced waste filtration.
“Certain odours are diagnostic clues and not just hygiene red flags,” Zhang explained.
Breath with a fishy smell could relate to trimethylaminuria, a rare disorder that prevents the body from breaking down trimethylamine.
This same scent can emerge from a condition called fetor hepaticus, where the liver fails to eliminate toxic compounds.
In such cases, chemicals like dimethyl sulphide accumulate and are expelled through the lungs.
A sulphurous or rotten egg smell is often a sign of gastrointestinal issues, triggered by hydrogen sulphide gas.
A musty breath odour may stem from kidney malfunction or late-stage liver failure.
Zhang, founder of ProDENT, says new oral tech may soon help diagnose conditions using chemical compounds found in the mouth.
“Emerging tools could help spot disease risks through breath-based biomarkers,” he added.
Article updated 2 months ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
