A Stinky Affair: Body Odors that Define Health

Sleeping with an Open Mouth is a Clear Green Signal for Bad Breath

Armpits: Our Body’s Smell Kits!

There are not many who are unaware of the worldwide hit of the Old Spice advertisement ‘The Man Your Man Could Smell Like’ primarily owing to its surprise ending. This brings us to a much more important topic of debate about body odor. While the cosmetic market is predominantly a woman’s affair, most deodorants and body sprays advertised are for the male population which again makes one wonder whether men are likelier to have profound body odor comparatively. Also, have you ever wondered why kids don’t use deodorants while every adult goes crazy over the latest ones advertised and has them stockpiled in their cosmetic shelves? That’s because our body produces body odor starting only from puberty due to the growth of the apocrine sweat glands. Until then, they are present in the body (even in a 6-month-old fetus) in an inactive state and hormonal changes in puberty triggers these glands to start functioning in a full-fledged way.
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Wacky Mornings
I hate it when someone talks to me the first thing in the morning without brushing his/her teeth. Not even the most beautiful lady or the most handsome man on this Earth smell good after getting up from a good nights’ sleep. And, it’s absolutely humane when your breath smells a little bad in the morning, especially when you have slept with your mouth open as dry mouth are thriving places for bacteria. Bad breath is often the work of bacteria sticking to your teeth and tongue. These parasites are capable of making compounds that have sulfur. Don’t let your minds wander to the chemical labs during school days as indeed you are right. These compounds are stinky smelling like rotten eggs or onions. Brushing your teeth and using a mouthwash is the best way to flush away these parasites but if your breath still smells bad despite this, its better to consult your dentist immediately. It might be clues of decaying teeth, gum disease, sinus, throat infection or lung infection which needs to be diagnosed by a physician.

You Exhale More than Just Air!
The human body is a great work of art interconnected from head to toe intricately. Just as how two different organs residing in very different places, the brain and gut, are revealing to be interconnected in various ways, the breath from your nose or mouth might also be indicative of diseases present elsewhere in your body. Gassy compounds from different other organs in your body reach the lungs through the bloodstream and you exhale more than just air.

Fruity breath might just not be the papaya or jackfruit you had as dessert but might be an indication of a very serious health problem such as diabetes. This is quite popular in individuals suffering from type 1 diabetes in which a condition called diabetes ketoacidosis (DKA) occurs. Due to DKA the body lacks sufficient energy to function properly and because of which it breaks down fatty acids for energy. This creates a buildup of acidic chemicals called ketones one of which is acetone causing the fruity smell. This condition can sometimes be lethal resulting in death. So, when you notice a fruity smell more often accompanied by dry mouth, breathing difficulty and abdominal pain it is better to meet your physician immediately.

Other common triggers for bad breath include:
Kidneys: Kidney failure can make your breath smell like urine or ammonia due to improper excretory functioning.
Liver: Liver disease gives out rotten egg smell, garlic smell or musty smell

Armpits: This is one of the most common places that smell bad. Stress often causes smelly compounds to be released as sweat in your armpits and skin. Even in the absence of stress, our armpits can smell due to the presence of hair and moisture, both of which are thriving places for bacteria. This makes it essential that you bathe, shave and use deodorants to maintain hygiene

Sleep apnea: Interrupted breathing can make your mouth go dry-a very common reason for bad breath. Sleep apnea leaves a person with decreased energy due to lack of proper sleep and also at a greater risk of diabetes, stroke and heart problems. Read more about sleep apnea at www.firsteatright.com.
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Feet: Increased sweatiness due to tight-fitting shoes, unexposed feet or contamination via towels etc. can lead to stinky feet surrounded by dry skin with rashes all of which are indications of an athlete’s foot.

Urine: Urination produces a pungent smell sometimes giving clues of a urinary tract infection (UTI). E.coli is mainly responsible for UTI which needs a physician’s attention.

Stinky stools: Most commonly due to lactose intolerance. Stools are more odorous after drinking or eating dairy.

Self-monitoring Body Odor
Maintain personal hygiene by taking a bath regularly and keeping your armpits clean. Wear clothes that are clean. When it comes to food habits, it is advisable that people prone to body odor refrain from eating foods that are spicy, dominated by garlic or rich in red meat. Despite all these efforts, if you still smell bad, it might be due to an underlying medical condition for which a physician is the right person to judge your case.

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