What does it mean when your breath smells like onions?

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.

Can bad smell affect your health?

Exposure to odors could result in health effects ranging from none, to mild discomfort, to more serious symptoms. Some chemicals with strong odors may cause eye, nose, throat or lung irritation. Strong odors may cause some people to feel a burning sensation that leads to coughing, wheezing or other breathing problems.

How do you tell if people can smell your breath?

Try the sniff test—there are a couple of ways to do it. If you lick your wrist, let it dry for a moment, then take a whiff, you should be able to get an idea if your breath has an odor too. Another method is to floss toward the back of your mouth, then smell the floss.

What is it called when a smell makes you sick?

Strong odors might be overwhelming and make you feel nauseated. This heightened sense of smell is called hyperosmia.

Can you taste bad breath?

What are the symptoms of breath odor? In addition to a bad smell, you may also notice a bad taste in your mouth. If the taste is due to an underlying condition and isn’t because of trapped food particles, it may not disappear — even if you brush your teeth and use mouthwash.

Why do my hands smell like onions?

When you have apocrine bromhidrosis, body odor is the byproduct of lipid-rich apocrine gland sweat mixing with skin bacteria. When these two ingredients come together, they produce thioalcohols — compounds that smell like sulfur, onions or raw meat.

Why does your breath smell like urine when you eat?

But some foods react in the body to produce ammonia, the chemical that makes your pee smell. This is a common problem with people who follow the ketogenic diet, a high protein low carb diet. Any high protein diet can cause your breath the smell like wee.

Why does my breath smell like sulfur?

It’s a sign that your liver is having trouble doing its job of filtering out toxic substances, usually due to severe liver disease. As a result, sulfur substances end up in your bloodstream and can make their way to your lungs. When you exhale, these substances give your breath a distinct smell.

What does it mean when your breath smells like sick?

Smelling Sickness. 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.

Why does my breath smell bad even after brushing?

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.