The Bad Breath Bible

Are Acid Reflux and Bad Breath Related?

If you have been trying to find a cause for your embarrassing bad breath, the cure may be linked to a condition many of us don't relate to bad breath at all. Acid reflux and bad breath have more in common than most people think, and curing one might just cure the other. Let's take a look at how these two seemingly separate conditions might just be one and the same.

For those who may not be familiar with acid reflux, it is a digestive condition that claims millions of sufferers in the United States alone. It was once lumped in with heartburn, but today doctors realize that acid reflux is, in fact, its own separate condition. Acid reflux occurs when the digestive acids and food in your stomach begin to get pushed back up through your esophagus. This causes a burning sensation similar to heartburn but often times more painful. Medications such as Zantac turn off your body's production of stomach acid, and the condition often stops for the time being. Many people don't realize that this condition can cause bad breath just as frequently as the symptoms of telltale burning and chest discomfort it is better known for.

When the stomach contents begin to move further up the digestive tract towards the esophagus, the odor of partially digested food can waft from your chest out of your mouth. What makes this kind of bad breath so difficult to control is that no amount of mints, gum or breath fresheners will help. The only way to rid yourself of the bad breath is to eliminate your acid reflux. Many of the top brands do help, but they don't get to the root of the problem, and since these medications are often expensive, you would have to take a pill or two each night for the rest of your life. The only way to stop acid reflux causing bad breath is to stop your acid reflux once and for all.

If you go to a medical professional about your acid reflux, you will likely be told to keep a food diary that keeps track of all of the food you eat on a daily basis. Your doctor will then tell you to start eliminating certain foods from your diet based on your diary. Many people find that once they eliminate a certain type of food from their diet, such as carbohydrates or spicy foods, their acid reflux instantly disappears. If you have been suffering from other digestive problems such as irritable bowl syndrome or a similar condition, chances are the same food group that is causing your acid reflux is causing your IBS and your bad breath. If you can find the culprit, you'll be home free.

Stress is another common cause of acid reflux and the bad breath that comes with it. Since it can be extremely difficult to eliminate stress from your life, most people choose to start an exercise program to help reduce that stress. Acid reflux and bad breath can be closely tied together, but you won't know for sure unless you seek the advice of a doctor.