GERD and Bad Breath
Gastroesophogeal Reflux Disease, also known as GERD, affects a number of people worldwide. Many suffer from it, but because of its elusive symptoms, and the fact that you can have a bad case of it without having all the manor symptoms, makes it very difficult to treat. Scientists have only recently begun to understand the causes and symptoms, and there’s still a lot of research to be done.
The symptoms of reflux vary considerably, but tend to include dry cough, habitual throat clearing, hoarseness, a feeling like one has a “lump in the throat”, heartburn, and a sour taste in the mouth.
One symptom of GERD that patients commonly experience is chronic bad breath. To understand how GERD causes bad breath, we have to take a look at the condition itself. GERD is a condition that occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter, which is kind of a “stopper” for the stomach, doesn’t close properly. This causes the contents of the stomach to leak back, or reflux, into the esophagus, which carries food from the mouth to the stomach. This causes a sour, salty and very acidic taste in the back of the throat, which shortly turns into chronic bad breath.
Patients who suffer from GERD feel this bad taste all day long. Even extremely vigilant oral health care and a solid regimen of breath freshening products don’t seem to help. Many report that the bad taste and the bad breath return almost immediately after brushing.
Unfortunately, the only way to combat bad breath associated with gastro esophageal reflux are the measures used to treat the disease itself, many of which are common ways to stop bad breath for other reasons. Here are some measures doctors recommend to alleviate symptoms:
· Avoid foods and drinks like coffee, tea cola beverages, citrus drinks, fatty foods, spicy foods, onions, peppermint and chocolate. These foods can lower the lower the pressure on the lower esophageal sphincter.
· Avoid NSAID medications, which are non-steroidal inflammatory agents like aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen. Other medications used to treat asthma and high blood pressure can also increase pressure on the LES.
· Avoid eating for 3-4 hours before going to bed.
· Elevate the head of your bed, by putting 4-6 inch blocks under the head of the bed. This lets gravity work in your favor.
· Eat smaller, more frequent meals.
· Avoid alcohol and cigarettes.
It’s important to remember that even if one were to follow all the measures taken above, in combinations with the many medications used to treat the problem, bad breath is one of the most persistent symptoms, and it may take up to three months of treatment before it goes away with the other symptoms. Medicines such as Prevacid and Prilosec block or slow down acid production in the stomach, and so the material that reaches the esophagus through reflux will be less acidic and less irritating, but the bad breath might still persist.
Halitosis from GERD sufferer. Hi there, just want to share my experience. I’ve been suffering from severe halitosis for years, more so in the past 3-4 years than I can ever remember. I’ve tried to drink lots and lots of water particularly after meals and floss and brush my teeth regularly but after a few minutes, the bad breath comes back. Just the thought of having a bad breath is horrendous to me because I take care of myself pretty well. It has affected my life in a very negative way; it affects my self esteem as well.
However, I somehow tried to drink lots of water in between meals at least 3 hours after I eat. I also try not to drink more than half a glass after meals… AND IT SEEMS TO WORK. I’ve been doing it for about two weeks now and my halitosis has improved so much. I didn’t even change my diet. I still eat meat, dairy, drink juice. And I make sure I brush my teeth right after meals. And I’m not taking any medications whatsoever. I’m very excited about it.
I’m planning to continue this and see how it goes. I’ll keep you updated. Thanks
Has it worked Melanie?
I have a bad breath for a long time like 3years and i don’t know the real issues of my bad breath i have seen so many doctors including ENT, DENTIST, And Specialist for Stomatch and every one he told me this is not issues of your problem execpt the one for stomatch and that one he told me you have gastric only nothing else….and am living in Uganda for that 3years am doing University in this country so there any one who knows about bad breath from Esophaginal or GERD becouse i lost my life and i will never garaduate my school till i eliminate for my bad breath plz help me for advice Thanks…..
Where in 2011 an im now finding out i have GERD. Through my extreme efforts to find out what is causing this bad breath that would not go away and constant mucus in throat. Im starting treatment today and wish i recover tomorrow. Thanks for the info and health advice.
I’ve had GERD for over 10 years but it wasn’t till 5 yrs ago till I found out. I avoid alcohol, chocolate or anything with chocolate, reduced meat consumption especially beef and salmon, tomato, onions, bell peppers, NO POP, spicy food, rich/creamy food ie cheese cake, salad dressing etc. NOTE, these are some of the foods that I think aggravates GERD in me but it’s different for different people. I figured this out by trial and error and some tips from my doctor. I was on NEXIUM (40mg) but what helps me now is this motility pill (prescribed) called DOMPERIDONE - it’s helps the food go down better perhaps by helping with the esophagal contraction.
I didn’t want to be on medication all my life so I found that when I excersise regularly, watch what I eat and drink at least 1.5L of water per day, I could keep my GERD in control. In addition, I pop one of the motility pills if I am going out for lunch/dinner. Restaurant foods are always too rich for my stomach to handle. My bad breadth is not so horrendous anymore but I still have it. I think I must have the worst condition of GERD but it may be as bad for others. Remember EXERCISE, HEALTHY DIET AND LOTS OF WATER WILL HELP.
I meant to say “IT MAYNOT BE AS BAD FOR OTHERS”.
The problem is that the sphincter in your gut is loose. Because it’s loose the natural stomach gases leak out through your mouth and nose. This doesn’t take a brain scientist to understand. In addition, medicines like Prevacid/Prilosec block or significantly reduce the acid output, which means that your food sits in your stomach longer.
DUH. Someone needs to find a solution to this, and then we’ll be in business.
I love these advices, they really helped but can other medicines be used such zantac or tagamet because I do not want to use ppi.
This sight really helped me. Thanks, now i am gonna go to the doctor and get help for my gerd. I have a question though. How many people still have the bad breath after 3 months of treatment? I really hope im not one of them because this is making school extremely difficult. I am 16 and still have 3 years left.