Breath Smells Like Mothballs: Causes And Solutions - Healthline

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HealthlineSubscribeWhy Your Breath Smells Like Mothballs (and What to Do)

Medically reviewed by Jennifer Archibald, DDS — Written by Corey Whelan — Updated on December 4, 2025

Causes
Remedies
Takeaway

Everyone’s breath has felt not-so-fresh now and again. If a person’s breath smells like mothballs, there’s most likely a medical cause behind it. Most causes of mothball breath are easy to diagnose and to treat.

Mothballs have a strong, sharp, chemical odor. People may describe the scent as acrid or pungent.

Bad breath (halitosis) is a common problem that researchers estimate affects around 32% of people. Even though it occurs in almost everyone on occasion, having bad breath can make you feel self-conscious.

Read on to learn more about the causes of mothball breath and some solutions for eliminating it.

Causes of breath that smells like mothballs

Bad breath can be frustrating but may also provide clues to your overall health. This is especially true if your breath has a distinctive odor, like mothballs.

A 2018 study found that the enzyme known as tryptophan can lodge and grow between teeth and under gums, and it’s specifically tied to mothball breath.

Bacteria in the mouth use tryptophan to produce the molecule skatole, which smells really bad. Skatole gives animal manure its distinctive smell and can make human breath take on the displeasing scent of mothballs.

Tryptophan is also found in mucus. If your body produces large amounts of mucus, there will be more tryptophan for bacteria in your mouth to catalyze into skatole.

A 2020 study notes that the main substances present in the breath of people with halitosis are volatile sulfur compounds, including:

hydrogen sulfide
S-ethyl thioacetate
ethanethiol
dimethyl sulfide
diethyl disulfide

Other substances that may contribute to the smell of halitosis to a lesser extent include:

indole
skatole
putrescine
cadaverine
pyridine
ammonia
trimethylamine
acetone
products that come from the body breaking down methionine

Conditions which might cause excess mucus in the mouth include:

allergies
postnasal drip
tonsil stones
respiratory infections, such as common colds and the flu
sinus infection
asthma
acid reflux
lung diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic bronchitis, and pneumonia

All types of bad breath are generated by bacteria. Bacteria can coat the teeth, tongue, gums, mouth, and throat, feeding off of food particles, enzymes, and other substances.

Pathogens like bacteria are more likely to thrive and grow when your mouth is dry. Conditions that generate excess mucus in the nasal cavities may cause you to breathe through your mouth, making it drier than normal.

For that reason, having dry mouth can intensify mothball breath. Many conditions and medications also cause dry mouth. You might want to consider talking with your doctor about the medications you’re taking and their side effects.

Remedies for breath that smells like mothballs

If your breath smells like mothballs, your doctor can help. Treating and managing the underlying cause will help to eliminate or reduce the occurrence of mothball breath.

Based on your condition, you may need over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription medications, such as:

decongestants
antihistamines
antibiotics
antacids
corticosteroids
bronchodilators

Oral hygiene

Tackling the underlying cause, however, won’t be enough to eliminate mothball breath completely. You’ll also need to maintain good oral hygiene habits every day. These include:

brushing your teeth when you wake up, after meals, and before bed
using a mouth rinse specifically designed for dry mouth
flossing teeth
using a tongue scraper
drinking lots of water
avoiding foods that bacteria like to feed on, such as sweets and starchy carbohydrates
avoiding caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco

Using an electric toothbrush may help rid your mouth of bacteria and excess tryptophan. Home remedies for bad breath, such as chewing parsley, may also help.

»FIND CARE:Find a primary care doctor in your area today.

Takeaway

Mothball breath is caused by conditions that produce too much mucus in the mouth.

Treating the underlying condition will eliminate the smell of mothball breath. People may want to consider visiting a healthcare professional who can work out the underlying cause of the condition.

Maintaining good oral hygiene habits is also necessary for managing mothball breath.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Dry mouth. (2024).https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/health-info/dry-mouth
Liu D, et al. (2018). Indoleacetate decarboxylase is a glycyl radical enzyme catalysing the formation of malodorant skatole.https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-018-06627-x
Mogilnicka I, et al. (2020). Microbiota and malodor—etiology and management.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/21/8/2886
Silva MF, et al. (2017). Estimated prevalence of halitosis: a systematic review and meta-regression analysis.https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00784-017-2164-5
Tungare S, et al. (2023). Halitosis.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK534859/

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Medically reviewed by Jennifer Archibald, DDS — Written by Corey Whelan — Updated on December 4, 2025

Breath Smells Like Mothballs: Causes And Solutions - Healthline

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