The Bad Breath Bible

Curing Bad Breath on a Low Carbohydrate Diet

We may not realize it, but our bodies can be very sensitive to the changes we make in our day to day life. Subconsciously, we love routine, and when we eat at the same time every day and eat the same kinds of foods, our body tends to work in a much calmer and steady fashion. It shouldn't come as a surprise, then, that when we change our diets that our bodies get thrown into a bit of chaos. If you have recently switched to a low carbohydrate diet on the advice of a doctor, suddenly realizing that you have bad breath on a regular basis shouldn't be shocking. Let's take a look at a few things you can do to get your body back on an even keel.

When most people switch to a low 'carb' lifestyle, the first thing they do is to increase the amount of veggies and fruit they eat. While this is often a welcome change from taking in too many 'carbs', it can cause our bodies to react in strange ways. People almost always report an increase in the amount of gas they produce and it is this increase in gas that can sometimes cause bad breath. Our bodies need the fiber that comes from fruits and veggies, and since you aren't getting that fiber from grains any more, a diet high in veggies is more important than ever. To cover up the increase in gas that your body is undergoing, try using an over the counter product like Beano or Gas-X until you notice that your body has adjusted. Whatever you do, don't stop eating those veggies.

Simply getting in shape can also cause suffering from bad breath while you are on a low carbohydrate diet. When your body begins to burn fat instead of empty calories, you begin to give off a substance known as ketones. Don't worry, you don't need to go to the hospital. Ketones are a sign that you are getting in shape, but you might want to keep a pack of gum or some mints around to cover up the stale and sometimes off putting taste you'll have in your mouth. Remember, you are putting yourself through this for a reason!

So, how long can you expect this bad breath on a low carbohydrate diet? It can be tough to say because everyone's body adjusts to a new diet at a different rate. Some people are back to smelling sweet in a matter of days, while others, especially those not use to dramatic changes in diet, may take up to two weeks. During this time, many people may give up and go back to their old eating habits. If you do, you will have to start over at square one. Any time you undergo a major change in the way you live your life, you may possibly suffer from bad breath thanks to the stress you are undergoing. The only way to beat it is to keep chewing gum or mints on hand and realize that this condition is only temporary.