Methyl Mercaptan... - Dental Health Message Board

grioghair · 02-07-2004, 07:35 PM

Can anyone offer me any advice?

I have a problem with my breath - I clean my teeth several times a day, use listerine, and floss once a day...but I have to confess to not looking after my teeth in earlier years.

My wife says that I occasionally have the smell of faeces coming from my breath, but it is always when I seem to have stomach trouble...so it seems to be originating from my intestines.

The only thing I can seem to find on this across the Net is the term methyl mercaptan - does anybody have any knowledge of this condition and what causes it?

Many thanks,

Steve

Doppler4000 · 02-08-2004, 12:27 AM

Methyl mercaptan is a small sulphur containing molecule. It's volatile and has the unpleasant smell you describe. Such sulphur compounds are the byproducts of bacteria, etc. so you want to make sure your mouth is clean and your teeth are sealed up and healthy. I've also heard that bad breath can originate from the GI tract as you seem to have discovered on your own. Not sure how much a dentist could help you with that... probably need to see your general M.D. or a proper specialist to deal with the actual problem causing the unpleasant symptom you describe.

willow42 · 02-08-2004, 07:02 PM

I'm not sure if it'll help you, but it has been said that eating parsley will "sweeten" the stomach & helps to improve breath. It's painless & certainly worth a try!