Weird Question about Breath Smell

[MrsMommaRN]

this might be a weird, but here goes. there is a patient on our floor whose breath is horrible. it really smells like a nasty bowel movement. even after brushing his teeth still that smell. is there a condition that would cause such fowl breath? is that type of breath a symptom of something? would rotting teeth cause this?

[DA314]

I'm not sure what causes it , but I've been around people with that same smell! Just like poop! It's disgusting, you'd think their dentist would help them out with that.

[tvccrn, ASN, RN]

Bad teeth can indeed cause this as well as a bowel obstruction.

[DeeAngel]

What you are smelling is rampant periodontal disease that has gone unchecked and untreated for years. Brushing, using mouthwash will do nothing for it. The Periodontist needs to go in, lay flaps and clean all the junk and old diseased tissue away.

I have experienced before what you are describing and yes it is truly disgusting. Recommend that they see a Periodontist to begin a treatment program, it's the only thing that will help.

[RN1982]

I find that Neuro patients have horrible breath also. We call it Neuro Breath. It smells bad no matter how much you clean their mouth

[Keepstanding, ASN, RN]

ketoacidosis maybe...or gingivitis...yuck !

praiser :heartbeat

[catlynLPN]

Bad teeth and diseased gums can indeed cause that odor.

They need to see a dentist, and probably have any bad teeth pulled and gum treatment started.

We have a person at my facility who has that same odor.

No matter how much showering, bathing, and tooth brushing is done, it is still there.

I'm going to recommend, or at least ask why treatment has not been started on this person. The odor is so bad you can't stand to be in the same room with him for very long. It is overwhelming.

[RNKPCE]

I knew someone who had horrible breath even from 3 ft away. Just being in the car together you could smell it. He had some infection and/or peridontal disease and had to have all his teeth pulled and had to get dentures. he had to take antibiotics for 2 weeks before they would start pulling teeth. Once the teeth were gone and everything healed no more bad breath.

However he ended up with two bad heart valves. I am sure the peridontal disease did some damage to his heart.

[nerdtonurse?, BSN, RN]

First thing I thought was, "When was the last BM, and what do the bowel sounds sound like?"

[Neveranurseagain, RN]

It could be the tonsils/adenoids! I friend of mine worked for a ENT and she said there has been a dramatic increase of people with Halitosis. This is due to T & A not being performed on kids with chronic tonsillitis and they shrivel up and "decay" as she put it. So as they age, the problem gets worse! Yeck!!!!

[Lovetobenurse]

Sound familiar, I had supervisor who's breath could make you vomit,it was horrible,but the crazy thing about it was that this woman did not have a concept of personal distance.when she wanted to talk to you ,she was right there in your face.it was difficult for us to approach the issue,and I kept wondering if she was ever approached about it.how do you approach your supervisor with something like that? and by the way how do you approach co-worker about body odor without offending them?:argue:

[pielęgniarka, RN]

You leave an anonymous gift bag on their desk that includes: altoids, dental floss and scope. And a brochure on halitosis.

.how do you approach your supervisor with something like that? and by the way how do you approach co-worker about body odor without offending them?:argue: