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.

All the people recommending mouthwash and flossing etc. - don't you think the OP will have tried this?? 🙄

No advice OP but I'm sending my sympathy. It sounds like such a hard situation and heartbreaking for you to see your little boy suffer too. Really hope the root cause is found soon.

Can you breathe through your nose? Mouth breathing can cause terrible breath in otherwise healthy, clean mouths?
Do your teeth bite together correctly? Or are your teeth/ or jaws misaligned? Do your lips meet easily at rest? Do you need to engage your tongue to seal your lips to effectively swallow?
if anything here is abnormal I would consult an orthodontist.

I’m just going to say see your gp again with your child.You need to be referred onto a specialist who can start ruling out and ruling in what’s wrong.You shouldn’t be suffering like this.please tell your gp the impact it is having on you and your son.If you don’t get anywhere then definitely try going private, even if it means asking family to lend you the money.Also write down everything you have already done yourself without success.good luck

I know you have had a barrage of tests. Have you been referred to an ENT consultant? Is that who ran the tests? Have you had an endoscopy? I wouldn't let it go, someone has to know what this is and help you and your son.

Both Yakult & Kefir will give initial stomach camps - it helps to only have a small amount & gradually build up.

The best Kefir can be made yourself at home - you only need some grains.

https://www.yemoos.com/pages/milk-kefir-overview

It sounds like you have been very thorough though OP - hope you find some more info to help.

A close friend suffered with this in secondary school and it was very clear it was not a hygiene issue, she was so self conscious about it. She was open with us about it and used mints but truthfully it didn't bother us and we tried to comfort/ reassure her. I am sorry it is not a solution but I would at least confide in a couple of friends as the issue is bigger in your head than in real life.

Practical suggestion would be to make sure you eat and drink enough as I know from dieting my breath stinks when fasting or if I cut out carbs

Try that CB40?? Mouthwash

Breath more through your nose when talking or just keep a bit of distance, I think you need to be very close to smell someone's breath

I am sorry you feel this way and I hope you can find a solution. I would try herbal or Chinese medicine too, have literally nothing to lose by giving it a go

Good luck and I hope yiu find a solution or find peace xxx

I was going to say tonsil stones, but not sure about your son having it from so young 🤔 have you checked your tonsils for white lumps? They absolutely stink! Once I figured out i was getting them I flush the holes in my tonsils with a syringe and gets rid of any nasty build up of bacteria 🤢

Op sorry to hear this. Personally if it was me id book myself into a specialist dentist and start a referral for yourself that involves identifying the issue rather then focusing on the issue being related to your gut. Im not saying its not that but I think at this stage you really dont know what the cause is so I wouldn't focus on one reason and I would instead insist the health system gets to the bottom of it all. Get online and find a good dentist or go to your own. They too can make referrals to ent on your behalf. Good luck and i really hope you sort it out.

Have you tried oral probiotics for dental and mouth health. Like BlisK12 but there are other salivarus ones specific for the mouth.

Do you or your son suffer with sinus infections?
Ask your GP for a referral for both you and your child if nothing else can resolve this problem.
it’s not great to be permanently on acid suppressants, it can also reduce your intake of vitamin and minerals from your gut, whether you use probiotics or not

If your GP is unsympathetic, get another one.

So sorry OP, it sounds like you really have tried a lot of potential solutions to no avail.
I hope you stumble across something that changes your life.

Despite numerous people telling her, kids at school calling her son stinky, doctors obviously agreeing she has and doing all sorts of tests on her and giving her meds?

Okay then 🙄

Oh OP, you poor honey. This sounds awful and I'd be crushed to hear my DC repeating those words. It's opening an old wound for you too.

I understand the guilt even though it's Illogical. I've had cancer three times and I look at my DC and worry about what future I've given them.

You seem to have tried everything but have you gone to see an Ayurvedic doctor? One helped me when nobody else could.

I have known two people with very bad breath over the years. With the one it smelt like it could be a stomach/gut issue and the other more from the mouth. They used to clean their teeth and use mouthwash during the day but you could still smell it. In fact the whole room smelt wherever they went so to the person who said you have to get close to someone to smell bad breath, I would say with normal bad breath like garlic or coffee yes but where there is a bigger ongoing problem then no and it is very noticeable.

Both these people were teachers so they had a lot of comments all day long from pupils about the bad smell. I worked with the one person for ten years and they always smelt from quite a distance.

It must be awful for you op and it’s obviously not a ‘normal’ hygiene issue. You would think someone medical would be able to help you.

@Hope54321 So sorry to learn about your worry and distress.

May I ask, and sorry I've not RTWT, but have others definitely confirmed that you have bad breath?

I only ask as my eldest son (18) has for the last couple of years been convinced he has bad breath and will take neither my, his father's or sister's word for it. His usual dentist couldn't sense anything either.

My son persisted and I booked him in at a clinic where they can measure these things. She said the device had picked something up but 100% he did not smell!!

I do remember when I was in my teens I was convinced too, maybe something about a heightened sense of smell during a hormonal period?

Either way, if other people (i.e. family and friends) absolutely say there is not smell, please trust them.

There is a condition for 'imagined' bad breath - pseudohalitosis.

@Hope54321 Did you miss this post? Or did I miss your reply to it?! Looks potentially extremely useful.

I haven’t tried keto or carnivore, I might give it a try once I stop breastfeeding.

I chew xylitol gum everyday.

Someone previously mentioned sinus infection. I find the smell with this is exactly as you describes (it's literally like poo - it's vile).
Chronic rhinosinusitis would explain it I think - and there's a lot of gene mutations associated with it which would explain why you passed it on. That doesn't mean it's not treatable!

I have tried many many different ones for both gut and oral micro biome.

I have checked thouroughly, never seem to find any.

I have checked thouroughly, never seem to find any.

I used to take a probiotic that contained ginger and fenugreek, it didn’t make any difference to my breath.

I think this issue is beyond flossing and brushing. My son had bad breath before he even had teeth.

Yes, I don’t have diabetes.