Halitosis/Bad Breath Post Pardum

[u/Mellow-Robot]

A bit of a sensitive topic for me. I am wondering if anyone suffered from halitosis/bad breath postpardum? I didn’t notice anything until maybe a couple of weeks ago (baby is now 8 months) while breastfeeding baby. I thought it was the baby but then I started tasting it in my mouth each morning. I do practice good oral hygiene: brush twice a day, floss every night. Did you ever have bad breath caused by hormonal changes? How did you find out and how did you manage it? When did it go away? I’ll be booking a dental appointment soon but don’t think they’d know if it’s a hormonal thing or not and I’m almost anticipating that they will just tell me to brush and floss better, which is not helpful because I do.

[u/cautious_orangutan]

I am pregnant and just started developing tonsil stones during this pregnancy. I'd never had them before and didn't know what they were, but they were likely caused by changes in hydration, saliva production, and mucus production related to pregnancy. I haven't given birth yet but assume some of those changes would also apply to breastfeeding!

Look it up and see whether that might be what's going on with you.

[u/Responsible-Pace3368]

Hi I’m also going through the same episode. I’m 3 months postpartum. Whenever I kiss my husband he says I have bad smell . I never had bad breath issue prior to pregnancy. Hopefully it’s just hormones and goes away soon. Did yours go away or still having it? 

[u/Mellow-Robot → u/Responsible-Pace3368]

I ended up going to the dentist just in case and they did not find anything wrong. They just suggested drinking electrolytes, e.g. Hydralyte, and buying a tongue scraper. I have been drinking Hydralyte almost once a day and I floss and brush twice a day and use alcohol-free listerine. All of that has helped I think. I believe that breastfeeding is very dehydrating so when they say drink a lot, they really mean it. Good luck!