Eggy breath
Question
A mate of mine has been burping all the time, and it smells like rotten eggs. He's not been eating eggs so what could be wrong?
Answer
The smell of rotten eggs is most likely to be a chemical called hydrogen sulphide, which smells of rotten eggs and can be caused by bacteria in the mouth. It isn't necessarily anything to do with actually eating eggs.
Burps are usually made up of air that someone has gulped down, perhaps by drinking fizzy drinks (including beer) or by eating and drinking too quickly. Some things you eat, such as chewing gum or onions, can lead to excessive burping too.
Try not to worry too much - burping a lot isn't usually a sign of anything serious. If your friend is as worried as you, you could try suggesting he pays a visit to his local doctor (GP). They could check out other aspects of his health in case there is a medical reason.
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