| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Acid Reflux And Bad
Breath:
Is There A Connection?
Bad breath, medically called halitosis,
could be due to poor oral hygiene or may be a sign
of other health problems. Bad breath can also be
made worse by some types of foods, other unhealthy
lifestyle habits, lack of saliva swishing around
in the mouth, stress, dehydration, and stomach
activity, i.e. acid indigestion. Smoking or
chewing tobacco-based products can also cause bad
breath, stained teeth, reduced ability to taste
foods, and irritation of gum tissues. It is
important to know that breath does not come only
from the mouth. Any air passing over the sinuses,
the back of the throat and even that coming up
from the stomach and digestive system is expelled
out of the mouth as breath. But among the many
diseases that can cause bad breath, acid reflux is
one of the leading causes.
Not everyone with acid
reflux has bad
breath, although it is quite
common. But treating acid reflux is very important
as bad breath is just one symptom of the damage it
may be doing to the system. Acid reflux is caused
due to relaxing of the lower oesophageal sphincter
(LES) at the junction of the oesophagus and the
stomach. Normally, the LES remains closed to
prevent fluids from the stomach from reaching the
throat. The LES relaxes in cases of severe
indigestion and allows the acid into the oral
cavity along with a very severe form of bad
breath. When this acid reaches the oral cavity, it
causes bad breath that is rather acrid-smelling.
As a matter of fact, there does not
seem to be a really strong correlation between bad
breath and acid reflux per se. A relatively low
percentage of people with GERD experience
halitosis. Instead, there is an apparent
connection between proton pump inhibitors and
chronic bad breath. The drugs, probably, cause an
overgrowth of odour-producing bacteria in the
mouth. Since many people experience acid reflux in
their sleep, chances are that bad breath is
related to GERD. Also, many of the factors that
contribute to bad breath are also causal factors
for acid reflux.
It stands to reason then, that by
counteracting the causal factors of GERD, bad
breath can also be treatd. As acid reflux is
partially a lifestyle disease, it may be
controlled to some extent by making changes in
diet habits and lifestyle. This would involve a
holistic approach which involves making slow but
gradual changes and incorporating them into your
life. In truth, the bad breath associated with
acid reflux may not be the biggest concern where
your health is at stake, but it would be easier to
recognize and treat it rather than allow it to
grow into a bigger problem. The holistic approach
is ideal as it treats all the causes at the root
without compromising on the natural well-being of
an
individual.
|
|
|
|
|
