The article is advised by Master Vu Huy Binh - Outpatient and Internal medicine department - Vinmec Hai Phong international hospital. She has been working in digestive endoscopy for 9 years.
When gastroesophageal reflux disease appears, digesting food in the stomach and acid will come back to the esophageal, nasopharynx, and mouth causing halitosis. Therefore, halitosis is a common symptom in gastroesophageal reflux disease patients.
1. Why gastroesophageal reflux disease cause halitosis
Gastroesophageal reflux disease is a reflux condition that which the chylia moves from the stomach to the esophageal. If not treated right away it might cause dangerous consequences like esophagealitis, esophageal narrow, adenocarcinoma,.. In addition to those classic symptoms such as heartburn, burping, chest pain, stomach burn, cough, and hoarse voice, halitosis is a common symptom. Halitosis made the patient feel not confident.
Why gastroesophageal reflux disease causes halitosis? To answer this question, the specialist thinks, because many bacteria live in the stomach. When having gastroesophageal reflux disease, the digesting food, and the acid flux from the stomach to the esophageal, nasopharynx, and mouth cause halitosis.
Besides, acid when fluxes carve tunica mucosa esophagi and throat, the bacterial might grow.
When the haloitis occurs, gastroesophageal reflux disease may be at a danger rate. To repair this condition, the patient needs to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease.
2. The efficient ways to overcome gastroesophageal reflux disease
Gastroesophageal reflux disease causes halitosis, patients should go to the hospital for examination and treatment. Medications that may be used are:
- Proton pump inhibitors (PPI) such as Omeprazol, Esomeprazol, Lansoprazol, Pantoprazol, Rabeprazol,...they are used 1 tablet 30 minutes before eating, taking daily in 4-8 weeks. If there is no improvement, double the dose in 4 weeks or take an endoscopy to access. If it is controlled after 4-8 weeks, lower the dose, only take the medicine when needed, or stop.
- H2 receptor inhibits like Cimetidin, Ranitidin, Famotidin, and Nizatidin,... are the best for mild and medium gastroesophageal reflux disease. Common doses are: 2 tablets per day, use before eating 15- 30 minutes.
- Antacid: Medication that combines aluminum and magnesium is a common antacid. It has many kinds of shapes: gel, tablet, pounder, granule. You should take the medication after eating for 1-3 hours or before going to bed, the number of times used is based on each patient.
In addition to treatment by medication, changing lifestyle is also an important way. Those are:
- Avoiding foods and drinks like alcohol, beer, coffee, soft drinks, orange juice, lemonade, chocolate, spicy food, and fat,.. These foods may cause gastroesophageal reflux disease worst
- Avoiding lean the body forward, heavy exercise right after eating
- Dividing meals, eating at least 2 hours before eating, avoiding lying down right after eating.
- High head while sleeping, stop smoking, lose weight, and wear comfortable clothes.
If taking medications and changing lifestyle do not get any better, the patient might go through surgery. The surgery improves symptoms such as burns, and fluxes, however, some still have to take medicines.
During the treatment, to improve halitosis, the patient may use one of the methods:
- Brush teeth and tongue daily, 2 times a day. Using dental floss, and gargle after eating. Using nonsugar-gum to enhance the ability to wash and secrete saliva
- Drink enough water: at least 2 litter/day might maintain the normal activities of saliva, avoiding halitosis
- Washing your mouth with sodium chloride 0,9% is an easy efficient way to prevent plaques and eliminate bacteria in the mouth, which prevents halitosis caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease
- Using herbs such as mint, ginger, lemon zest, licorice, unrefined salt, and cilantro,.. is very efficient to get away from annoyed mouth sense.
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