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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Feeling really awful about myself and my son.

185 replies

Hope54321 · 10/12/2025 13:30

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.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
Yourlifeinyourhands · 12/12/2025 21:41

Hope54321 · 12/12/2025 09:40

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

Show quote history

Are you breast feeding a 4 year old? Maybe you’re passing on whatever is causing your bad breath to him and his will improve if you stop?!

Original poster
Hope54321 · 12/12/2025 22:59

I have a little one year old as well.

OP posts:
Original poster
Hope54321 · 12/12/2025 22:59

Yourlifeinyourhands · 12/12/2025 21:41

Are you breast feeding a 4 year old? Maybe you’re passing on whatever is causing your bad breath to him and his will improve if you stop?!

Show quote history

I’m feeding my one year old. He smells lovely.

OP posts:
ChattyCatty25 · 15/12/2025 06:36

Hope54321 · 12/12/2025 09:40

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

Show quote history

That's terrible advice, meat makes you stink. It makes your body odour and feces smell stronger, it makes you sweat more, it makes your sexual secretions stink, and most importantly, the cysteine in protein feeds bacteria in the mouth.

I was going to say STOP eating meat and fish!

But, you only say you scrape your tongue - that doesn't clean it at all. Plus you say it gets worse when eating sugar. This implies the problem is bacterial.

You should clean your entire tongue with toothpaste and toothbrush, all the way back to the epiglottis. Doing this, I never even get morning breath. Sometimes I need to do it twice, and I also need to "rinse" the tongue after by cleaning it with only water on my toothbrush.

I get tonsil stones, and I can tell when the tiniest fragment of food or particle is caught in there. It does smell like it's coming from deeper within, rather than the mouth itself. This is because you smell the gases they give off, which seem to be emanating from within you, but they're not.

You say they checked, but they wouldn't be able to see small tonsil stones or tiny food particles. Just get a water pick, put it on the lowest setting, and thoroughly clean your tonsils and see what comes out.

My dad's breath had that manure smell. My tonsil stones smell exactly like that, so I took action immediately. With a clean tongue and tonsils my breath is always perfect, except post-garlic.

Original poster
Hope54321 · 15/12/2025 20:10

ChattyCatty25 · 15/12/2025 06:36

That's terrible advice, meat makes you stink. It makes your body odour and feces smell stronger, it makes you sweat more, it makes your sexual secretions stink, and most importantly, the cysteine in protein feeds bacteria in the mouth.

I was going to say STOP eating meat and fish!

But, you only say you scrape your tongue - that doesn't clean it at all. Plus you say it gets worse when eating sugar. This implies the problem is bacterial.

You should clean your entire tongue with toothpaste and toothbrush, all the way back to the epiglottis. Doing this, I never even get morning breath. Sometimes I need to do it twice, and I also need to "rinse" the tongue after by cleaning it with only water on my toothbrush.

I get tonsil stones, and I can tell when the tiniest fragment of food or particle is caught in there. It does smell like it's coming from deeper within, rather than the mouth itself. This is because you smell the gases they give off, which seem to be emanating from within you, but they're not.

You say they checked, but they wouldn't be able to see small tonsil stones or tiny food particles. Just get a water pick, put it on the lowest setting, and thoroughly clean your tonsils and see what comes out.

My dad's breath had that manure smell. My tonsil stones smell exactly like that, so I took action immediately. With a clean tongue and tonsils my breath is always perfect, except post-garlic.

Show quote history

I don’t just scrape my tongue. I have an extensive cleaning routine. I brush my tongue with toothpaste and then use a tongue scraper. On some days, I also use a bicarbonate soda paste on my tongue and then use a tongue scraper.

I have also blasted my tonsils with a water pick. It made no difference. Trust me, I have dealt with this problem for over 25 years of my life, I have tried many different things to cure my bad breath.

OP posts:
Sbmpp · 15/12/2025 21:26

Endoscopy to rule out intestinal leakage?

Gatekeeper · 24/12/2025 11:34

Try the probiotic bacillus salivarius - 2 a day on an empty stomach and Retardex mouthwash. Absolute game changer for me

Original poster
Hope54321 · 24/12/2025 23:33

Gatekeeper · 24/12/2025 11:34

Try the probiotic bacillus salivarius - 2 a day on an empty stomach and Retardex mouthwash. Absolute game changer for me

I have tried this probiotic for months with no results.

OP posts:
MrsDutchie88 · 01/02/2026 16:17

Hope54321 · 15/12/2025 20:10

I don’t just scrape my tongue. I have an extensive cleaning routine. I brush my tongue with toothpaste and then use a tongue scraper. On some days, I also use a bicarbonate soda paste on my tongue and then use a tongue scraper.

I have also blasted my tonsils with a water pick. It made no difference. Trust me, I have dealt with this problem for over 25 years of my life, I have tried many different things to cure my bad breath.

Show quote history

Have you tried Diatomaceous earth?

SharpSheep · 23/03/2026 22:29

Hiya @Hope54321 ,
I know a few pp suggested trimethylaminuria and you said you haven't tested for it but it could be that.
It is genetic and it can cause horrendous breath problems.
You really have to restrict your diet in order to get a bit of relief and to take antibiotics every few months to kill off the bacteria that is causing it.
You seem to have exhausted all other options and you have fastidious dental hygiene.
There are many sufferers in the UK who know exactly what you are experiencing. Sending hugs x

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