Feeling really awful about myself and my son.

[Hope54321]

Hello guys,

Hope you’re all having a wonderful day. I am currently struggling with my self esteem and confidence because I am a sufferer of chronic bad breath since about 8 years old. My eldest son was born with bad breath. Doctors are so confused and just throw the usual “it’s acid reflux”. Dentists say we have lovely teeth and a clean mouth. We still stink so bad. My bad breath is at a point where I can no longer mask it with chewing gum. I floss, brush and use mouthwash before I leave the house and I still get reactions from people.

I feel guilty that I passed this horrible disease onto my son. He is only 4 yeas old, he should be enjoying his life. He also has eczema, severe allergies, asthma and autism. Poor kid has a lot going on.

I just can’t take it anymore. The doctors have no idea and I don’t have tonsil stones. I’m really struggling with the bad breath, especially because now my son is suffering. He is repeating what the kids have said to him. After school he kept repeating “you’re stinky”. It breaks my heart to watch him go through what I went through as a kid. I really worry about his future.

People avoid talking to me at his school because of this disease. I’m not sure how much longer I can go on for like this. Thank you for reading. I can’t speak about this to anyone in real life so thanks for reading.

If you ever find out, let us know! DS is waiting for ENT

Have you tried zylatol? It’s a game changer.

This sounds really tough to live with OP but by the sounds of it your GP is not being very helpful or understanding. There will be an underlying medical reason and it seems a possible genetic link considering your son is displaying the same symptoms. Keep pushing your GP and insist to be referred to a specialist.

You have tried a lot, OP. It must be so frustrating. But when you say you've tried probiotics including some for the oral biome, which ones? As it needs to be the right strains, in the right concentration.

Oh gosh that sounds so distressing - and it sounds like you've investigated really thoroughly. A thought - undiagnosed coeliac disease caused gross breath for my DD (not quite poo smelling though)? Another option if you haven't already tried it is Fenugreek (the spice) great for GI issues and smell.

Absolutely no advice but I just wanted to give you a virtual hug. It’s hard enough when you’ve got something like this yourself, but it’s heartbreaking when you’ve see your baby going through it too. I hope they find a cause soon 💐

Yes, I have tried cloves, they don’t get rid of the bad breath.

Tonsil stones?

Have you tried plaque disclosing tablets to ensure your flossing and brushing is perfect?
try use interdental brushes as well as floss

Are you both mouth breathers? If so retraining yourself to nose breathe might help.

As temporary solutions- have you tried chewing gum or regular mouthwash?

You're going to have to push for further investigations - stress the MH effects on you & your son, it's easy for people who don't have halitosis to minimise it as a condition, it's not nearly so easy to have it.

It's not always easy to diagnose the cause, a friend had 3 years of let's say not wholly necessary dental work done before his dentist threw in the towel. Even the GP had to refer him to a specialist before tonsil stones were diagnosed, & as you know, those are one of the more routine causes.

There are several possible causes that spring to mind & unfortunately, differential diagnosis is the process of eliminating one after another in descending order of likelihood. Be encouraged that you have at least ruled out the most likely possibilities & need not waste more time on them.
I realise it's hard but try not to be disheartened & keep pushing for a diagnosis.

(The doctor who told you there was nothing to be done if the cause is genetic has stepped into the realm of pulling things out of his arse.)
I wish you all the luck in getting this sorted.

Have you had very thorough blood tests and maybe an endoscopy and colonoscopy, you never know something might be found? Worth being thorough to eliminate your doubts at the very least even if it is just genetic.

I’ve seen her stuff. Lots to do with oil pulling, xylitol and other mouthwash. I don’t think it originates from the mouth, had to be a lot deeper. I have tried oil pulling religiously, chew xylitol gum every day.

I am not a mouth breather. He can be a mouth breather depending on how his asthma is, but he was born with the bad breath.

I would request a visit to an ENT and get them to inspect your sinuses. It’s possible you have issues there.

SELENBP??

I do my oral care routine before I leave the house, then chew xylitol gum and people still react to my breath even though I have chewing gum in my mouth.

Have you always had this, @Hope54321? Or did it come on in adult life?

Have you a partner/DH?

I have read about the SELENBP1 genetic mutation, but there isn’t much research on this. I think there were only a handful of cases.

Since about age 8, my son always had it, he is almost 5 years old.

https://www.aesthetic-smiles.co.uk/the-role-of-genes-in-halitosis/

Genetic and congenital causes

• Genetic mutations: Mutations in the SELENBP1 gene can lead to high levels of smelly sulfur compounds (methanethiol) in the blood that are exhaled.
• Metabolic disorders: Inherited metabolic issues can cause a build-up of certain substances that lead to bad breath.
• Thyroid/Bacterial imbalance: Some research suggests a genetic predisposition to an excess of specific bacteria or thyroid gland imbalances can start causing bad breath from infancy.
• Other congenital issues: Nasal/throat obstructions (adenoids/tonsils) or foreign bodies can also cause halitosis in babies.

Just a few interesting things that have come up with a quick Google search which might help?

I also understand that using mouthwash can contribute to bad breath. This obviously doesn't help you son who I'm sure isnt using it as his age?

Or, maybe, you don’t actually have bad breath…?

Have they done the SIBO test?

Wow, so people telling me directly to my face is all in my head is it. I can smell my son’s bad breath, that’s all in my head is it?

Yes