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Original poster

DH told me I had bad breath

26 replies

professionalamateur · 04/01/2019 14:23

I'm feeling hideous. So DH told me he has noticed I have had bad breath a lot of the time recently. I'm horribly embarrassed particularly as I work in close proximity to clients and just generally horrified.
I thought my oral hygiene was good, I use a good electric toothpaste and floss regularly. I started brushing several times a day and added in mouthwash but he then said it was still bad.

I went to the dentist and he found a wisdom tooth out of reach of brushing that was growing in a weird direction. It was black and horrible - he removed it. He said he has an incredibly sensitive nose and could not detect any bad breath on me but thought the tooth could be it. I don't know if it has solved the problem because I haven't summoned the courage to ask DH.

I have found that recently I burp a lot (I imagine you're all falling in love with me by now) but really tiny burps which can no detectable smell to me. I wondered about acid reflux but they are not accompanied by any burning sensation.

I will go to the doctor obviously, but I would like to think it through first.

OP posts:
Santaisfastasleepatlast · 04/01/2019 14:28

Imo if your nearest +dearest can't tell you they aren't your nearest +dearest.
Be glad your dh has enough respect for you he didn't want anyone talking about your behind your back.
It came from a good place so remember that.
Better than the poster who's dh called her a fat mess recently - nothing nice about the way he said it either by all accounts.

Theknacktoflying · 04/01/2019 14:32

Book in to have your teeth professionally cleaned - oral hygienist have the tools to scrape away build up on the teeth.
Do hou brush your tongue?
Don’t use mouthwash and toothpaste together ... one or the other/separate times of the day

Aceinthehole · 04/01/2019 14:39

I agree, it is so much better you know. I was talking to a friend's DH the other day and his breath was horrendous, I've noticed it before. I could not for the life of me think how she either can't notice or doesn't tell him.

A second professional opinion is needed.

Fairylea · 04/01/2019 14:42

Are you sure you don’t have tonsil stones? Lots of videos on you tube if you’re not sure what they are. Times when I’ve had bad breath it’s always due to them. Horrid things!

Original poster
professionalamateur · 04/01/2019 14:44

I choose a really good, highly-recommended dentist and he really impressed me. He did a full hygienist clean and polish on my teeth. He said my oral hygiene was good, my gums were healthy and there was nothing to indicate any problem. So if removing that tooth hasn't solved the problem (which I don't know) it could be stomach acid.

I don't brush my tongue specifically, but I do brush for over a minute all round my mouth. Do I need to get a tongue scraper?

OP posts:
Original poster
professionalamateur · 04/01/2019 14:48

I'm also fit and eat a healthy diet with not much sugar or refined food.

It was right of DH to tell me. He didn't do it particularly nicely (it was during a row) but he is the brutally honest type.

OP posts:
Magicstar1 · 04/01/2019 14:53

My DH had a bad tooth and it smelled horrendous...but not all the time. He could be fine for days, then smell terrible for a day or two, then normal again. Maybe yours was similar?

TooMinty · 04/01/2019 14:55

The dentist didn't notice a smell? I'd ask a close friend or colleague if they can smell anything either. It's possible your H is either imagining it/has something wrong with his nose or maybe he purely said it during a row to wind you up.

badassmc · 04/01/2019 14:55

Do you eat regularly through the day? I find if I don't eat much through the day, or if I've gone hours without eating I get a very sour breath which isn't helped by brushing my teeth. The burps could also be put down the lactose intolerance, and the bad breath. Maybe try cutting lactose out of your diet, see if there's any improvement

Good luck xxx

paap1975 · 04/01/2019 14:58

Do you get lots of tonsil infections? My bad breath came from that and getting tonsiloliths (tonsil stones). No tonsils now and no problem...

TeacupDrama · 04/01/2019 15:00

semi retired dentist here 90% of bad breath (halitosis) is due to gum disease, if I was your dentist I would tell you and if I said not then it's true. most of the other 10% is due to stomach problems I think from brief history here that this is the cause of OP's problem as she says she has tiny burps and reflux I think a trip to Dr is required make sure you tell them you have already been to dentist and he says gum disease is not the cause, before that however ask your DH if it is still there and if it is worse at any time of day, if he just says when you wake up that is normal as salivary flow drops during the night

Wagonwheelsandjammydodgers · 04/01/2019 15:02

Sounds like reflux to me and not dental related at all. Family member same story - could have written your post from their perspective!

Holidayshopping · 04/01/2019 15:06

You probably had a v clean mouth at that moment at the dentist (having just cleaned your teeth) whereas your DH would be with you all day-could be that?

Hopefully now the tooth is sorted the bad breath will be gone?

Original poster
professionalamateur · 04/01/2019 15:14

Magicstar - I really hope it's the same for me, you post gives me hope!

I've ordered tongue-scrapers.

In answer to questions, I can't see any tonsil stones. I also think that the dentist would have checked for this, as he was specifically seeking a reason for bad breath. I will check when I go back.

I've never had a tonsil infection so I don't think it can be that.

Lactose intolerance is a really interesting idea. I do eat a lot of dairy (milky coffee, yoghurt and muesli, need to be kept away from cheeseboards, etc.).

I do eat regularly. When I went to the dentist he couldn't detect any bad breath, but he could tell I had not been talking much which made my breath slightly dry. Weird!

Thank you all for being so kind and pragmatic.

OP posts:
Original poster
professionalamateur · 04/01/2019 15:15

Wagonwheels, did they have burning sensation though? I don't have any reflux symptoms, other than burping. Really interested to hear this!

OP posts:
Original poster
professionalamateur · 04/01/2019 15:20

teacup, I appreciate the professional input. My dentist said the same about gum disease and this has been ruled out. A previous dentist (about 15 years ago) told me I needed an operation for reflux and he had to recoat my teeth with an enamel substitute.

I'm going to cut out lactose straight away and see if that stops the burping.

I'm so determined to make sure this is cured.

OP posts:
Wagonwheelsandjammydodgers · 04/01/2019 15:34

No, no burning symptoms at all. Infact no reflux symptoms but ranitadine prescription sorted out the bad breath as long as they kept taking it! 😊

Original poster
professionalamateur · 04/01/2019 16:13

Thanks so much wagonwheels, that's standard otc zantac I think, so I'll pop out and get some. I'm hoping that will work and I won't need to give up cheese

OP posts:
Wagonwheelsandjammydodgers · 04/01/2019 17:03

Would you mind coming back once you've tried the anti reflux medication for a week and let me know how you get on please? I'd be really interested.
You could take the medication without your DH knowing and see what he says about your breath after a week. Would be a good test!

kalefire · 04/01/2019 17:18

Perhaps your DH has a super sensitive nose. I am the straight talking friend who will let you know when I think you need to go to the dentist - I can smell rotten teeth really easily. It's a curse lol. Have sniffed out a few friends and my own DH over the years although I'm usually quite polite in how I let them know Xmas Grin
It started when I was late teens and I had a wisdom tooth growing in sideways. I used to get a straw to dig out all the nasty rotten smelly food that would get caught there over the months that it took me to summon up the courage to get it removed Xmas Envy

Aaaahfuck · 04/01/2019 18:27

I think the recommendation is you should brush for 2 mins. I think if the dentist is saying you're good the you could try the GP. Is there anyway he could be just trying to be unkind?

Original poster
professionalamateur · 04/01/2019 18:27

Kalefire, that's exactly what my tooth was like, growing sort of sideways. I insisted he show it to me after he took it out, it was pretty horrible Envy.

windmill I promise I will, I'm going to start taking it tomorrow. However, I've looked at long-term use of ranitidine and there are some quite severe ones, so I'm going to see my GP and get their take on it.

OP posts:
MrMeSeeks · 04/01/2019 18:31

You can have reflux without the burning

Hannnnnnnxo · 05/01/2019 01:10

I think your dental routine could be improved.

You say you floss regularly? What does that mean? Realistically you should floss every time you brush, so twice a day.

You absolutely should be brushing your tongue- in fact not brushing your tongue could be the reason why your breath wasn’t very nice. You don’t need a specific tool to do this either. Does your electric toothbrush have a tongue cleaning setting? If not, just use it as normal but brush your tongue from back to front.

So brush twice a day for at least 2 minutes
Floss each time, consider interdental brushes too
Rinse with mouthwash (for as long as the product states eg 60 seconds)

  • your mouth will be left feeling as clean as it does when leaving the dentist!
Wagonwheelsandjammydodgers · 16/01/2019 00:13

Did you take the medication? How's it going?

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