What Halitosis Can Say About You : From Bad Breath to Good

To the untrained nose, bad breath is just bad breath. But “oral malodor experts” say specific breath odors reflect possible disease and dietary habits.

Among the possibilities:

* Rotten egg smell might indicate liver disease.

* Sweet or sour smelling breath might reflect a high-milk diet.

* Bitter odors might follow a fatty meal.

* Fishy breath might occur when someone is on dialysis.

* Acetone breath (nail polish-like smell) might afflict a person with diabetes.

* Musty breath might accompany typhoid fever.

* Very sour breath might reflect intestinal dysfunction.

Source: Dr. Diana Messadi, co-director, UCLA Fresh Breath-Halitosis Clinic.