Bad Breath Halitosis Forum

To connect the dots between bad breath and use of PPIs, I called Daily Health News consulting medical editor Andrew L. Rubman, ND, who has spent many years studying the digestive system and its problems. He explains that because a PPI drug suppresses stomach acid, which of course is its purpose, it robs the stomach of an important protection. Digestive acid, among other things, makes the stomach relatively aseptic, which keeps bacteria, yeast and mold from proliferating. But if you take away the acid, the stomach no longer has what it needs to defend itself and it becomes vulnerable to these unwanted microorganisms. Dr. Rubman says that yeast settles in and ingests the stomach lining and this in turn creates debris that contributes further to bacterial growth... and that causes bad breath.

The solution, as I have often written about, isn't to rob your stomach of its valuable acid but instead to create a digestive environment that allows acid to be present when it is needed -- that is with meals -- and not there when it isn't called for, which is between meals. Dr. Rubman advises occasionally using something like Pepto-Bismol to ease GERD rather than the powerful PPI drugs. Unlike PPIs, Pepto-Bismol coats the lining to soothe it. He recommends that you change how you approach food as well. Avoid snacking and eat only at meal time, which will help maximize your supply of stomach acid at meal time... chew your food thoroughly to maximize the digestive process... and limit the amount of fluids you drink with meals so as not to dilute the valuable acids now at work. There are also digestive enzymes available on-line and at health food stores that offer a natural way to assist your digestive system.