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What Could Be The Cause Of Breath Smelling Like A Burning Rubber ?
For the past few months my boyfriend s breath has been smelling very strongly over burning rubber. Any ideas what could be causing this smell? It is often very potent. Thanks
posted on
Sun, 25 Mar 2012
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Sun, 15 Apr 2012
Answered on
Mon, 19 Aug 2013
Last reviewed on
Most probable cause of bad breath including burning rubber smell is caused by improper oral hygiene and bad habits like tobacco chewing,smoking, alcohol intake, lots of intake of intense smelled food like garlic,onion,fish..etc.. being majority caused by deposits on teeth so he may undergo cleaning/oral prophylaxis by dentist.. (even some times third molar eruption/impaction can be the cause in 20-30yr age group despite of proper hygiene too..) and if then also his smell doesnt go he can go to gastroenterologist who will try to locate any other abdominal origin of the smell..
regarding smoking and chewing tobacco, stoppage of such habits then followed by cleaning will resolve problem completely.. tell him to use mouthwash after every meals and increase his water/fluid intake meanwhile to reduce the intensity of smell..
regarding smoking and chewing tobacco, stoppage of such habits then followed by cleaning will resolve problem completely.. tell him to use mouthwash after every meals and increase his water/fluid intake meanwhile to reduce the intensity of smell..
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hi...
thanks for the query...
bad breath can be due to oral, ENT or medical problems...
visit your dentist for complete oral examination... sometime, grossly carious tooth is the source of foul smell... in that case it will require restorations...
or due to presence of plaque and calculus... and inflamed gums and deep pockets... in that case it will require proper scaling and root planing...
brushing twice daily with pea sized tooth paste will help... make sure that you brush your teeth AFTER MEALS instead of before meals... rinse after every meal... also use tongue cleaners... tongue may harbor micro organisms on its surface and can be the source of bad breath...
if still persists, consult general physician to rule out any metabolic disease... consult ENT specialist also...
hope it will help you...
take care...
thanks for the query...
bad breath can be due to oral, ENT or medical problems...
visit your dentist for complete oral examination... sometime, grossly carious tooth is the source of foul smell... in that case it will require restorations...
or due to presence of plaque and calculus... and inflamed gums and deep pockets... in that case it will require proper scaling and root planing...
brushing twice daily with pea sized tooth paste will help... make sure that you brush your teeth AFTER MEALS instead of before meals... rinse after every meal... also use tongue cleaners... tongue may harbor micro organisms on its surface and can be the source of bad breath...
if still persists, consult general physician to rule out any metabolic disease... consult ENT specialist also...
hope it will help you...
take care...
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1 user finds this helpful
hello
thank u for writing in hcm
bad breath can be due to alcohol consumption , smoking, tobacco chewing , gingivitis , periodontists , improper oral hygiene , low carbohydrate diet , food like garlic , onions , tonsillitis etc
i would advise your friend to visit a dentist to identify the cause first
get scaling and polishing done.
meanwhile start with antibacterial mouth wash.
twice brushing
use a soft toothbrush to avoid trauma.
warm water gargle after every meal.
maintain oral hygiene.
take care
regards
thank u for writing in hcm
bad breath can be due to alcohol consumption , smoking, tobacco chewing , gingivitis , periodontists , improper oral hygiene , low carbohydrate diet , food like garlic , onions , tonsillitis etc
i would advise your friend to visit a dentist to identify the cause first
get scaling and polishing done.
meanwhile start with antibacterial mouth wash.
twice brushing
use a soft toothbrush to avoid trauma.
warm water gargle after every meal.
maintain oral hygiene.
take care
regards
I find this answer helpful
1 user finds this helpful
Hello,
Thanks for writing to us.
There are many factors like:-
diabetes, poor oral hygiene or any that you have eaten.
try scraping your tongue after eating or drinking anything. Before talking to someone, have a sip of cold water then swish it around your mouth a few seconds. It helps!
Start keeping a diary of what you eat and drink each day and how you smell that day. The rubber smell might not be related to what you just ate, it could be what you ate up to a few days ago so that's why you don't see an obvious pattern. Keeping a food diary will help establish a pattern with foods you ate several days earlier.
Hope this helps you.
Wishing you good health...
Regards.
Thanks for writing to us.
There are many factors like:-
diabetes, poor oral hygiene or any that you have eaten.
try scraping your tongue after eating or drinking anything. Before talking to someone, have a sip of cold water then swish it around your mouth a few seconds. It helps!
Start keeping a diary of what you eat and drink each day and how you smell that day. The rubber smell might not be related to what you just ate, it could be what you ate up to a few days ago so that's why you don't see an obvious pattern. Keeping a food diary will help establish a pattern with foods you ate several days earlier.
Hope this helps you.
Wishing you good health...
Regards.
I find this answer helpful
hello
most probable cause may be smoking or tobacco chewing or poor oral hygiene
less common causes may be high sugar level,lots of ginger or onion or garlic in food etc
what i would suggest is that you ask him to visit your local dentist who may specify the exact reason and get it sorted out
in the mean while you can ask the person to do following
1.luke warm saline rinse afetr every meal
2.mouthwash after breakfast
3.use sugar free chewing gums
hope that helps
most probable cause may be smoking or tobacco chewing or poor oral hygiene
less common causes may be high sugar level,lots of ginger or onion or garlic in food etc
what i would suggest is that you ask him to visit your local dentist who may specify the exact reason and get it sorted out
in the mean while you can ask the person to do following
1.luke warm saline rinse afetr every meal
2.mouthwash after breakfast
3.use sugar free chewing gums
hope that helps
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3 Doctors agree with this answer
Hello there ,
Thanks for writing your query,
Bad or fowl mouth odor is caused by number of reasons such as;
Poor oral hygiene , improper brushing techinques which lead to accumulation of food debris and bacterial plaque and calculus deposits deep in the gum pockets and root surfaces of the teeth .
bacterial plaque and calculus on the teeth gives fowl odor.
Gingivitis and periodontitis is another condition which leads to fowl mouth odor.
Ulceration when infected with bacterial or viral invasion may lead to fowl smell.
alcohol consumption alos promotes plaque deposition and gives fowl odor.
stomach reflux , GERD and other gastric problems may also lead to acidic mouth odor , you need to consult a physician to get the problem confirmed.
i hope this helps ,
take care.
Thanks for writing your query,
Bad or fowl mouth odor is caused by number of reasons such as;
Poor oral hygiene , improper brushing techinques which lead to accumulation of food debris and bacterial plaque and calculus deposits deep in the gum pockets and root surfaces of the teeth .
bacterial plaque and calculus on the teeth gives fowl odor.
Gingivitis and periodontitis is another condition which leads to fowl mouth odor.
Ulceration when infected with bacterial or viral invasion may lead to fowl smell.
alcohol consumption alos promotes plaque deposition and gives fowl odor.
stomach reflux , GERD and other gastric problems may also lead to acidic mouth odor , you need to consult a physician to get the problem confirmed.
i hope this helps ,
take care.
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1 Doctor agrees with this answer
Hi,
Thanks for asking the query,
After reading your clinical history i suppose that you are facing inflammation of gums known as Gingivitis, this occurs due to many reasons few are; poor oral hygiene, plague and calculus deposition, mouth breathing habit, depositions on tongue, dry mouth, hormonal imbalance , systemic diseases like diabetes leukemia, excessive eating of onions, garlic , smoking ,alcohol consumption.
I would suggest you to visit the Dentist and get thorough scaling and polishing done.
Maintain a good oral hygiene, use chlorhexidine mouthwash gargles tiwce daily.
Take complete balanced diet, drink plenty of water and keep yourself hydrated.
Hope this helps out.
Regards..
Thanks for asking the query,
After reading your clinical history i suppose that you are facing inflammation of gums known as Gingivitis, this occurs due to many reasons few are; poor oral hygiene, plague and calculus deposition, mouth breathing habit, depositions on tongue, dry mouth, hormonal imbalance , systemic diseases like diabetes leukemia, excessive eating of onions, garlic , smoking ,alcohol consumption.
I would suggest you to visit the Dentist and get thorough scaling and polishing done.
Maintain a good oral hygiene, use chlorhexidine mouthwash gargles tiwce daily.
Take complete balanced diet, drink plenty of water and keep yourself hydrated.
Hope this helps out.
Regards..
I find this answer helpful
Hi,
Thanks for asking the query,
After reading your clinical history i suppose that you are facing inflammation of gums known as Gingivitis, this occurs due to many reasons few are; poor oral hygiene, plague and calculus deposition, mouth breathing habit, depositions on tongue, dry mouth, hormonal imbalance , systemic diseases like diabetes leukemia, excessive eating of onions, garlic , smoking ,alcohol consumption.
I would suggest you to visit the Dentist and get thorough scaling and polishing done.
Maintain a good oral hygiene, use chlorhexidine mouthwash gargles tiwce daily.
Take complete balanced diet, drink plenty of water and keep yourself hydrated.
Hope this helps out.
Regards..
Thanks for asking the query,
After reading your clinical history i suppose that you are facing inflammation of gums known as Gingivitis, this occurs due to many reasons few are; poor oral hygiene, plague and calculus deposition, mouth breathing habit, depositions on tongue, dry mouth, hormonal imbalance , systemic diseases like diabetes leukemia, excessive eating of onions, garlic , smoking ,alcohol consumption.
I would suggest you to visit the Dentist and get thorough scaling and polishing done.
Maintain a good oral hygiene, use chlorhexidine mouthwash gargles tiwce daily.
Take complete balanced diet, drink plenty of water and keep yourself hydrated.
Hope this helps out.
Regards..
I find this answer helpful
1 user finds this helpful
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
From what you are describing I feel that your boyfriend has bad breath or halitosis. Bad breath can be caused due to many causes ranging from systemic diseases like diabetes, not drinking enough water, periodontal infections, sinusitis/ tonsillitis which causes a person to breathe from mouth,even certain food cause it. Having too many decayed teeth can also be a factor.
I would advise your boyfriend to go to a dentist . If there are no dental findings, visit to an ENT would be helpful.
Take Care
Dr.Sushma Rajesh
Thanks for posting your query.
From what you are describing I feel that your boyfriend has bad breath or halitosis. Bad breath can be caused due to many causes ranging from systemic diseases like diabetes, not drinking enough water, periodontal infections, sinusitis/ tonsillitis which causes a person to breathe from mouth,even certain food cause it. Having too many decayed teeth can also be a factor.
I would advise your boyfriend to go to a dentist . If there are no dental findings, visit to an ENT would be helpful.
Take Care
Dr.Sushma Rajesh
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2 Doctors agree with this answer
Hello Jeni,
Thank you for the query.
Bad breath smelling like burning rubber is also known as halitosis.
There are following reasons for bad breath-
1.Poor oral hygiene.
2.Tooth decay.
3.Gum diseases.
4.Food like garlic,onion.......
5.Smoking.
6.Crash dieting,low carbohydrate diet......
7.Medication like-nitrates,chemotherapy medication,phenothiazines......
8.Medical conditions like-diabetes,sinusitis,bronchitis,gastro-esophageal reflux disease.........etc........
So i would suggest you visit a dentist in your area and get the thorough check up done to rule out the cause and take a proper treatment accordingly.
Nothing to get worried.
Take care.
Dr.Gunjan Gupta
Thank you for the query.
Bad breath smelling like burning rubber is also known as halitosis.
There are following reasons for bad breath-
1.Poor oral hygiene.
2.Tooth decay.
3.Gum diseases.
4.Food like garlic,onion.......
5.Smoking.
6.Crash dieting,low carbohydrate diet......
7.Medication like-nitrates,chemotherapy medication,phenothiazines......
8.Medical conditions like-diabetes,sinusitis,bronchitis,gastro-esophageal reflux disease.........etc........
So i would suggest you visit a dentist in your area and get the thorough check up done to rule out the cause and take a proper treatment accordingly.
Nothing to get worried.
Take care.
Dr.Gunjan Gupta
I find this answer helpful
Hello and thank you for your question:
Burning rubber is a new one for me. Everyone has a different opinion on smells so I may conclude that it smells like something else. A few things I can think of
-Diabetes or atkins diet (low carb high protein) can lead to acetone breath which is very strong
-gingivitis/periodontits which to me smells like rotten raw chicken
-Coffee/tobacco that can have a pungeant smell
-tonsiliths (hard mineral deposites in the tonsils) these have a very strong odor
-a diet high in garlic, cumen, curry, onions tend to give off a strong odor
Most likely it's due to poor oral hygiene and needs to be addressed.
A lot of bacteria that causes halitosis or bad breath is on the top surface of the tongue. Have him brush his tongue in a back to forward fashion. Floss, brush and rinse with mouth wash daily. If the odor persists, suggest an evaluation with ENT for tonsiliths and to have diabetes ruled out with internal medicine.
Hope this helps.
Best regards and good health
Dr. Ward
Burning rubber is a new one for me. Everyone has a different opinion on smells so I may conclude that it smells like something else. A few things I can think of
-Diabetes or atkins diet (low carb high protein) can lead to acetone breath which is very strong
-gingivitis/periodontits which to me smells like rotten raw chicken
-Coffee/tobacco that can have a pungeant smell
-tonsiliths (hard mineral deposites in the tonsils) these have a very strong odor
-a diet high in garlic, cumen, curry, onions tend to give off a strong odor
Most likely it's due to poor oral hygiene and needs to be addressed.
A lot of bacteria that causes halitosis or bad breath is on the top surface of the tongue. Have him brush his tongue in a back to forward fashion. Floss, brush and rinse with mouth wash daily. If the odor persists, suggest an evaluation with ENT for tonsiliths and to have diabetes ruled out with internal medicine.
Hope this helps.
Best regards and good health
Dr. Ward
I find this answer helpful
hello and welcome,
how often your friend visit a dentist?
bad breath usually occurs due to improper oral hygiene maintenance.
there is a chance of plaque and food debris getting accumulated.
ther may be bleeding gums and gingivitis.
get a deep scaling done by your dentist.maintain good oral hygiene.brush your teeth twice daily.clean your mouth after every meals.use soft-bristled toothbrush,dental floss and chlorhexidine containing mouthwash to clean your teeth.visit dentist in every 6 months.
regards
DR.BINDIYA
how often your friend visit a dentist?
bad breath usually occurs due to improper oral hygiene maintenance.
there is a chance of plaque and food debris getting accumulated.
ther may be bleeding gums and gingivitis.
get a deep scaling done by your dentist.maintain good oral hygiene.brush your teeth twice daily.clean your mouth after every meals.use soft-bristled toothbrush,dental floss and chlorhexidine containing mouthwash to clean your teeth.visit dentist in every 6 months.
regards
DR.BINDIYA
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Hello
Welcome to HCM
I went through your problem & would like to inform you that its gingivitis.I would like to tell you few common reasons for foul odor:-
-improper oral hygiene
-dry mouth or xerostomia
-gastric problem
-hormonal imbalance
-alcohol intake
Most common reason is improper oral hygiene.How many times you brush is not as important as how you brush.You hold your brush with 45 degree angulation to your teeth and give gentle strokes.
Change your brush every 3 months. Start using 0.2%chlorhexidine mouthwash once daily half an hour after brushing.Ask him to quit all bad habits for better results.
Also go for oral prophylaxis once every 6 months & start intake of citrous fruits.
Take Care
Regards
Dr.Neha
Welcome to HCM
I went through your problem & would like to inform you that its gingivitis.I would like to tell you few common reasons for foul odor:-
-improper oral hygiene
-dry mouth or xerostomia
-gastric problem
-hormonal imbalance
-alcohol intake
Most common reason is improper oral hygiene.How many times you brush is not as important as how you brush.You hold your brush with 45 degree angulation to your teeth and give gentle strokes.
Change your brush every 3 months. Start using 0.2%chlorhexidine mouthwash once daily half an hour after brushing.Ask him to quit all bad habits for better results.
Also go for oral prophylaxis once every 6 months & start intake of citrous fruits.
Take Care
Regards
Dr.Neha
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User's Response
Dr. Harjeet Yadav,
Dentist,
Prosthodontics's Response
Dentist,
Prosthodontics's Response
I support Dr Amit Sharma's response. But one more point, a badly decayed tooth can also lead to such fetid odor in the mouth. Get his oral examination done. When the anaerobic bacterial flora in the oral cavity (which doesn't require oxygen to live) becomes very populous, it leads to extremely foul smell in the mouth. After complete oral prophylaxis, and treatment of any decayed tooth, ask him to use chlorhexidine gluconate based mouth wash, twice daily. To have a pleasant mouth odor, he should: 1) Brush his teeth twice daily in a correct method as described by dentist, 2) Rinse rigorously after every meal, and each snacks he consume, its advisable to use your finger to clean your teeth and gums while you rinse, as it helps to remove sticky items like chocolates, sweets, biscuits etc, which are not removed with plain squishing of water in your mouth. 3) Ask him to clean his tongue daily, which harbors bacterias that cause foul breath & taste.
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The only reason I can think of is smoking or chewing tobacco. Few of the cigars and local brands usually emit foul odour. If these are not the case of contention. Then you should simply go in for a gastric exam where endoscopy might help. But before all this his oral hygiene needs to be questioned. The right choice would be a cleaning with a dentist, a decent mouthwash then if it persists you need professional help.
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Hello,
Improper cleaning of dental work as well as teeth can cause nasty smells in your mouth. suggest him for teeth cleaned, and FLOSS after brush & after eating food. Keep tongue cleaned as well.If he do that and STILL have a bad smell, he might have medical problem that can be diagnosed by your dentist or doctor.
thanks, take care
Improper cleaning of dental work as well as teeth can cause nasty smells in your mouth. suggest him for teeth cleaned, and FLOSS after brush & after eating food. Keep tongue cleaned as well.If he do that and STILL have a bad smell, he might have medical problem that can be diagnosed by your dentist or doctor.
thanks, take care
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Hi Jeni,
Bad Breath (halitosis)caused by sulphur-producing bacteria that live within the surface of the tongue and in the throat which releases volatile sulphur
compounds .
Major causes are:
Periodontitis or poor oral hygiene,dry mouth & Smoking
Less causes include:
1.Acid and bile reflux from the stomach
2.chronic sinusitis
3.Kidney failure, various carcinomas, metabolic dysfunctions, and biochemical disorders.
4.Foods - such as onions, garlic or cauliflower, which induce certain odours.
Treatment for bad breath can vary, depending on the cause. If your bad breath is thought to be caused by an underlying health condition, your dentist will likely refer you to your physician.
To reduce bad breath, help avoid cavities and lower your risk of gum disease, consistently practice good oral hygiene.
Regards,
dr.naveen
Bad Breath (halitosis)caused by sulphur-producing bacteria that live within the surface of the tongue and in the throat which releases volatile sulphur
compounds .
Major causes are:
Periodontitis or poor oral hygiene,dry mouth & Smoking
Less causes include:
1.Acid and bile reflux from the stomach
2.chronic sinusitis
3.Kidney failure, various carcinomas, metabolic dysfunctions, and biochemical disorders.
4.Foods - such as onions, garlic or cauliflower, which induce certain odours.
Treatment for bad breath can vary, depending on the cause. If your bad breath is thought to be caused by an underlying health condition, your dentist will likely refer you to your physician.
To reduce bad breath, help avoid cavities and lower your risk of gum disease, consistently practice good oral hygiene.
Regards,
dr.naveen
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