Bad Breath From Stomach Causes

Bad breath, medically referred as halitosis, is brought on by excessive bacterial activity on the tongue in most cases (85%-90%), and gum disease which produces high levels of foul odors mainly due to the breakdown of proteins into individual amino acids, followed by further breakdown of certain amino acids to produce sulfur compounds.

The stomach is considered one of the sources of bad breath. It is because the esophagus is closed, and a reflux serious enough to be bringing up stomach contents between the stomach and the esophagus indicates a health problem (i.e., gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD).

Bad breath problems may arise from stomach and digestion problems.

Since halitosis is almost always caused by a problem in the mouth, home remedies used against bad breath, such as mints and gum, may only temporarily mask the odors but cannot cure your bad breath.

And once you treat the issue, the bad breath associated with it goes away.

There are many causes of stomach breath-

Gut Bacteria

If the balance between the good and bad bacteria in your gut is off you may start to experience more than just digestive discomforts. Breath that smells less than fresh is a common symptom of dysbiosis – an imbalance between the good and bad bacteria in your gut, as well as yeast or candida in the gut. You may even notice that your bad breath gets worse when you’ve eaten too much sugar. That’s because the yeast, candida and bad bacteria feeds on sugar and thrives when our diet is loaded with the sweet stuff.

Try doing a cleanse to clean out your gut, using gentle herbs and fiber. Eat foods that are rich in fiber to fight halitosis. Fiber helps the digestive movement (peristalsis) run smoothly so that reflux and obstruction are less likely to occur.

In reputed dental clinics in Delhi, patients are being educated thoroughly about the various causes of bad breath (both oral and systemic).

Fibrous foods also keep you feeling full longer and may help you maintain your weight. GERD is linked to being overweight, so consult your doctor about losing weight to relieve acid reflux and heartburn.

Toxic Overload

Bad breath can also be a sign of toxic overload and a good indicator to start cleaning up your diet and avoid chemicals in food and cosmetics. Toxins are a burden on our organs of detoxification including the liver, GI tract and skin. When these get overworked they might not be able to dispose of the toxins properly. Bad breath is one of the common signs and symptoms of toxic overload.

Dry Mouth

Stress and dehydration can also be a factor in bad breath. A side-effect from stress can be dry mouth.  In a dry mouth, dead cells tend to stick to the tongue and the insides of the mouth and bacteria feeds on these dead cells producing a bad odor in the process. This is also why many of us experience bad breath in the morning when our mouth has been dry and inactive all night. Dry mouth is being addressed by the dentists in the dental clinics in India.

Almost any stomach-related disorder can affect your breath.

Here are some stomach / gastrointestinal issues that can cause bad breath:

• Anything “smelly” that you eat: Anything you eat with an odor can cause bad breath three ways :from residual food in your mouth, from your stomach during digestion, and your lungs after digestion.
• Gas: Plain old gas will contribute to bad breath.
• Bowel Obstruction: A bowel obstruction could cause bad breath.

Sometimes bad breath causes can be medical problems, like acid reflux and gastroesophageal reflux disease, commonly called GERD.

Acid reflux, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), is a medical condition marked by burning indigestion, reflux (regurgitation) of stomach contents, chronic cough, and chest pain.

“GERD can certainly contribute to bad breath problems,”. In some people, food doesn’t move efficiently out of the stomach, starts to decay there, and can contribute to bad breath and GERD. Others with GERD may actually regurgitate small amounts of undigested food, which can also cause bad breath.

The stomach acid and pieces of food coming up into the throat is going to carry an odor. The regurgitation of stomach contents can cause a bitter or sour taste in your mouth and bad breath.

If you have bad breath your dentist will first rule out typical bad breath causes like periodontal disease, poor oral care, and sulfur molecules on the tongue.

The dentist may then investigate whether there’s a connection between your bad breath and GERD or other medical conditions.

Even if you’re unaware that you have GERD, dentists can often tell by looking in your mouth and throat.

Dentists in Delhi, are keeping this in mind that, oral and systemic health are closely inter related, while treating their patients.

People with GERD often experience acid erosion of their teeth and an inflamed red throat, especially around the tonsil area. Other signs include areas of irritation on the tongue and gums, and sour smelling breath.

If no oral cause of your bad breath can be identified and if it’s suspected that your bad breath and GERD are linked, your dentist will suggest a visit to your primary care physician or a gastroenterologist for diagnosis and treatment of the potential stomach problem or any other condition that is causing your bad breath so that you can be treated appropriately.

After all, the bad breath won’t go away until the GERD symptoms are under control.

A systematic approach for treating bad breath in patients is being adopted in dental clinics in India.

Treatment for GERD and “Bad Breath Reflux”

Bad breath (halitosis) can be controlled not only by managing your GERD, but also by making a few lifestyle changes.

Lifestyle changes can help prevent reflux, which can help your breath stay fresh. Most importantly, quit smoking if you’re currently a smoker. Smoking causes bad breath, and nicotine products cause your LES to relax, allowing acids to reflux into your esophagus. Giving up cigarettes is especially important because smoking contributes to GERD symptoms and smoker’s breath. Patients are being educated regularly on the smoking hazards by the dentists in India.

Many people find that GERD symptoms get better when they avoid common triggers like fatty and spicy food, alcohol, and big meals, especially close to bedtime. In most people, the combination of lifestyle changes and the right medication can get and keep GERD under control.

Drink plenty of water throughout the day to refresh your breath and have chewing gums (sugar-free) because it stimulates saliva production and clears acid from the mouth. It also helps wash away bacteria that can lead to bad breath.

Dentists in India are making a conscious effort in educating their patients about the relation between oral and systemic health.

By following your doctor’s advice, and you should be able to banish bad breath reflux.

Posted By – Dr. Shriya