Are Bad Breath and Low Carb Diet Linked?

No one really wants to admit it but bad breath and the low carb diet are indeed linked. In most cases, the halitosis is only a problem during the initial phase of most low-carb diets. However, if the bad breath does not disappear after the initial phase, then you are running increased risks for gum disease, constipation and a number of other medical problems related to dehydration.

A low carb diet tends to be an effective means of attaining short-term weight loss because it tends to induce a fat-burning state of metabolism known as ketosis. Ketones actually cause the unique odors related to bad breath and low carb diets. However, because ketosis tends to have a diuretic effect upon the body, it is possible to become dehydrated and develop halitosis due to dry mouth.

Dry mouth, or Xerostomia, will make preventing bad breath far more difficult because human saliva naturally controls the bacteria responsible for causing most cases of chronic halitosis. Every time we swallow, we are eliminating food particles and bacteria from the mouth. Plus, human saliva is rich in oxygen (the gram negative anaerobic bacteria responsible for most bad breath problems do not breed quickly if there is a lot of oxygen present in the environment) and enzymes that help control the microorganisms and prevent bad breath.

If you do not increase your water intake to compensate for the diuretic effects of the Atkins or South Beach low-carb diets, then you will develop dry mouth and not be able to stop bad breath naturally with your saliva. Depending on activity level, you will probably need to consume 2/3 ounces of water for every pound of body weight at least during the initial stage of a low-carb diet. Ketosis should diminish as you gradually re-introduce carbs into your diet and thus lessen problems with dry mouth and bad breath.

However, it is possible that dry mouth or keytones are not the bad breath cause. In some cases, halitosis is due to another medical problem, such as:

• Diabetes
• Pneumonia
• Bronchitis
• Chronic sinus infection
• Acid Reflux

If you have adjusted your water intake to account for the diuretic effect of ketosis and still have halitosis problems (or if they were present before the low carb diet), then you should consult with your doctor immediately. However, as bacteria are still responsible for bad breath both on and off a low-carb diet, be sure to use good oral hygiene practices and some antibacterial dental product (like a mouthwash or rinse) to keep halitosis at bay. Be sure to use only all natural remedies because products made from chemicals or other inorganic ingredients are more likely to cause side effects like dehydration and thus increase problems with halitosis.

If you are looking for an effective and all natural bad breath solution to help with problems during ketosis and the initial phases of a low-carb diet, then try OraMD® today !