Ammonia breath

As your kidneys fail, you may notice an ammonia taste in your mouth. This comes from a build-up of waste products your kidneys can no longer filter. Your breath may have an ammonia smell, too. To freshen your breath, brush your teeth, gums, and tongue a few times a day, use mouthwash, and suck on regular or sugar-free candy. If you are on dialysis and have ammonia breath or an ammonia taste, you may not be getting enough treatment to stay healthy (see Module 10—Getting Adequate Dialysis).