By Kathryn Whittaker
The answer is yesheres how. A large number of sufferers of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) more commonly referred to as acid reflux admit to having some sort of bad breath. Until recently though, a connection had not been formally established. A recent survey has changed that. The study confirmed that GERD and halitosis are indeed related to one another. While specific methods to fight the root cause of the bad breath are still unknown, we will take the time to explore the connection and discuss some tactics for managing the condition.
The Connection
In essence, the connection between the two can be narrowed down to the root cause of protein pump inhibitors (PPIs). PPIs are quite a common form of medicinal treatment for acid reflux, but have been shown in this recent study to stimulate the abnormally large growth of a certain bacteria. The halitosis is caused by this bacteria.
Untreated GERD and halitosis are not always related, the study shows. Only about 40% of the people studied had bad breath as a result of acid reflux. And just because someone has halitosis doesnt mean they suffer from the condition of GERD. Sometimes, though, it very well could be an indicator. Some patients find out that they have acid reflux without ever experiencing a symptom.
Treatment
Right now, there are not any universally agreed upon treatments that combat bad breath resulting from GERD directly. This is not indicative of the fact that a treatment is hard to develop, or is not coming. It is simply reflective of the very recent determination of the connection between untreated GERD and halitosis. In the mean time, though, you can still follow some very simple guidelines to keep the condition manageable.
Continue reading for some tips in keeping your breath sweet and sign up for the free acid reflux, GERD and heartburn newsletter below.
Some guidelines:
Good Hygiene Habits Having good hygiene is important for everyone, but especially to sufferers of acid reflux and halitosis. Because of the potentially compounding effects of bacterial growth in a dirty mouth, it is vital to practice better-than-average hygiene habits. This includes brushing your teeth at least twice a day with toothpaste containing fluoride. You should also floss regularly and brush you tongue and gums to break up excessive bacterial growth.
Visit Your Dentist See you dentist regularly for a professional teeth and mouth cleaning. This will help break up any hidden bacterial growth that has spread excessively to the mouth. Remember, a dirty mouth coupled with halitosis will only compound the problem of bad breath.
Utilize Mouthwash Use mouthwash regularly to make sure you kill as many germs as possible in your mouth. The stronger the better, as you want to kill bacteria growth before it can become too established.
Stop smoking – You also should refrain from smoking if possible. In addition to being bad for your breath, smoking will worsen your GERD condition.
Again, these methods still do not directly treat the root problem of bacteria growth. For now, though, they can help keep your problem manageable and discreet until more is known.
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