Bad Breath And Acid Reflux Often Share Cause
It is not unusual for a person to suffer both bad breath and acid reflux as the stomach acid backing up into the esophagus often carries with it the odor of the stomach acids that have their way into the esophagus or all the way up into the throat. It has often been said that bad breath is better than no breath at all, but your friends may not agree.
Most experts agree that a person’s breath is affected by what they eat so it only stands to reason that some of the same foods may be causing bad breath and acid reflux and a change of diet can help with both problems. When a person eats hot and spicy foods, the chemicals in the food that makes it spicy will enter the blood stream. As the blood passes through the lungs and is exchanged for oxygenated air, the person’s breath will reflect the odor leaving the blood stream.
Chronic and persistent indigestion can cause more damage than bad breath and acid reflux as the hydrochloric acid in the stomach is the same type of acid that is car batteries. It can burn the lining of the esophagus and if allowed to work upwards can cause pain in the ears as well as cause damage to the voice box and upper larynx.
Brushing And Flossing Not Always Effective
A person suffering from bad breath and acid reflux will find that consistent brushing and flossing, part of good oral hygiene, may not help with persistent bad breath. While contributing causes include lack of saliva activity, such as at night causing morning breath, many suffer morning breath as a result of indigestion.
When a person sleeps, chances are they are lying flat, and gravity cannot keep the contents of the stomach from slipping upwards through the lower esophagus sphincter muscle. Allowing the acid to rise back up causes bad breath and acid reflux and sometime the cure can be as simple as elevating the upper torso so gravity can work to keep the contents in the stomach where it belongs.
If a person suffers a feeling of acid rising in their throat, even when not accompanied by a burning sensation, it is an indication that acid reflux is in motion. Once the symptoms seem to disappear, they may still suffer bad breath and acid reflux may be the cause. To determine if you have bad breath, lightly lick the inside of your wrist and allow it to dry for a few seconds. If the spot has an odor once dry, then bad breath is present.