Battling Bad Breath Caused by Acid Reflux

Health & Medical Blog

Bad breath is the third most-common reason that people seek dental advice. However, bad breath isn't always a problem that can be solved by your dentist. You might need to visit your primary care physician instead. If you suffer from acid reflux, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), your stomach problems could be the cause of your consistent bad breath. Check out these tips to help you battle acid reflux–induced bad breath.

Gargle Mouthwash

Acid reflux causes your stomach contents to flow backward into your esophagus. When this happens, you might get a bad taste in your mouth and notice that you have bad breath. To temporarily get rid of bad breath caused from acid reflux, gargle flavored mouthwash after eating instead of simply swishing it around in your mouth. Gargling it allows the mouthwash to attack bacteria that's stuck in your throat, and this often causes bad breath for people suffering from acid reflux.

Take an Acid-Reflux Medication

Talk to your doctor to see what type of acid-reflux medication is right for you. If you don't have a severe case of acid reflux, your doctor might recommend taking an antacid when you eat to control the acid that your stomach produces. If your case is more severe, you might need to take a prescription medication daily to keep your acid reflux at bay. Controlling your acid reflux helps keep your stomach contents in your stomach, which in turn helps prevent you from having reflux-related bad breath.

Make Changes to Your Lifestyle

There are several things that you can to keep your reflux at bay and prevent yourself from getting bad breath because of it, including:

  • Avoiding lying down after eating.
  • Wearing loose clothing so that there isn't a lot of pressure on your stomach.
  • Eating small meals throughout the day instead of three large meals.
  • Chewing gum after you eat to freshen your breath and decrease reflux.
  • Quitting smoking.

Change Your Diet

Modifying your diet can help prevent acid-reflux attacks and therefore keep you from having bad breath. Foods that have a lot of fiber can help your body naturally fight bad breath. However, you also need to avoid foods that commonly cause reflux, such as:

  • Fatty and fried foods
  • Citrus and acidic foods
  • Food and beverages that contain caffeine
  • Spicy foods

You don't have to live with bad breath if you have acid reflux. If you find yourself constantly battling bad breath that's caused by your acid reflux, talk to your doctor to find a solution that's right for you. Visit sites like http://www.thefamilyhealthcntr.com to find a doctor's office near you. 

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