Acid "Bad Breath" Reflux

It is a very fitting middle name: acid "bad breath" reflux. While there are a number of factors that may be causing a bad breath problem, acid reflux is certainly one of the more unpleasant. The symptoms of acid reflux, or indigestion, are probably as varied as the potential sources of bad breath, or halitosis. The most common symptoms related to acid reflux include:

• Sore throat
• Periods of belching
• Pain during swallowing
• Distinct sour taste in mouth
• Inflammation of gingival tissue
• Bad Breath

With the exception of bad breath, most of the symptoms of acid reflux typically do not cause embarrassment or social anxiety. The foul odor caused by indigestion is literally the acid from the stomach and digestive system. When this acid reaches the oral cavity, it causes bad breath that tends to be rather acrid-smelling. In fact, the bad breath caused by acid reflux tends to be quite unlike other forms of halitosis which tend to have a more basic (as in base from the pH scale) odor to them.

Of course, the big reason for the difference in odor stems from the fact that the most common cause of bad breath tends to be an infection caused by anaerobic bacteria that live in the mouth. When bacteria populations grow out of control and cause infection, they cause bad breath. This is why normal cases of halitosis or bad breath tend to signify the presence of a larger medical problem, such as:

• Tooth decay
• Gingivitis
• Advanced periodontal disease
• Infection of the throat or mouth

However, both the source and actual smell of bad breath caused by acid reflux differs greatly from halitosis caused by bacteria. The cause of acid reflux is a relaxing of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) in the throat. Normally, the LES remains closed to prevent fluids from the stomach reaching the throat but this is not the case for people with acid reflux. Instead, the LES relaxes in cases of severe indigestion and allows acid into the oral cavity along with a very severe form of bad breath.

Despite the difference in cause and actual odor, acid reflux bad breath and the more traditional halitosis actually share a lot of similarities such as:

• Both the odor and severity of the bad breath problem can be linked to eating certain foods-this is exactly the case with Atkins diet bad breath problems as well
• Stress can be a big contributing factor
• Both may involve inflammation of the gums

In order to stop the embarrassing bad breath associated with acid reflux, you will need to stop consuming certain foods/drinks that are known to cause the problem, including:

• Drinking any caffeinated product
• Chocolate
• Eating fatty foods, especially those that have been deep fried
• Consumption of alcohol
• Eating or drinking anything with tomatoes as a primary ingredient

In truth, the bad breath associated with acid reflux may not be the biggest concern where your health is concerned and it is important to see a doctor if the condition is a recurring problem. However, even short term cases of acid "bad breath" reflux may be signaling the existence of a larger medical issue so be sure to consult with your physician any time you experience symptoms more than two times in any given month.

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